Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, low back disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected, while his right ear hearing loss and bilateral foot disability are not. GERD was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent prior to May 20, 2017 and at 30 percent thereafter. The reduction from 10 percent to noncompensable effective October 1, 2011 was proper.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional audiometry records and seeking an opinion on whether earlier non-Maryland CNC tests are consistent with later Maryland CNC tests. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for hearing loss prior to June 21, 2016 remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, with the Board finding that his current diagnoses are related to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate VA examination to address whether the Veteran's tinnitus is aggravated by his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and conducting an examination.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board upheld the reduction of the Veteran's hearing loss rating from 100% to 20%, effective August 1, 2017. The decision was based on clear and unmistakable error in the February 2014 grant of a 100% rating due to incorrect application of Table VI instead of Table VIa for speech discrimination scores.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his many years of noise exposure during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for chronic headaches is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's lay statements are considered, but a VA audiologist is needed to provide an opinion on whether his hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination for his right knee disability and an adequate medical opinion regarding his bilateral hearing loss. The issues of increased ratings for tinnitus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been denied. The Veteran is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, the claims are denied.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral hearing loss or chronic sinusitis, and the Board finds that these claims are denied.,Regarding hemorrhoids, the Veteran has been granted service connection as his residuals from a previous surgery are considered to be related to active duty.