Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has considered the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and his issue regarding VA recoupment of separation pay. The decision is mixed, with some issues granted (service connection) and others not (recoupment).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10% prior to October 3, 2016. From that date, the rating was increased to 20%. The increase is due to improved hearing levels in both ears.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had onset in service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his current evaluation is based on the most recent VA examination which showed noncompensable levels for both ears.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma, thus service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that pre-existing right ear hearing loss was aggravated during active service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or a neurological disorder, claimed as shaking hands.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active military service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, including noise exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable prior to July 26, 2017 and increased to a 30 percent rating thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in ratings beyond these levels.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee injury and left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including updating medical records and obtaining a VA examiner's opinion on the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be causally related to his service-connected tinnitus, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain with radiculopathy, and related conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or follow substantially gainful employment prior to September 3, 2015.

The Veteran's claim regarding the earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is being remanded. Additionally, his attorney has raised a claim alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in an August 1997 rating decision that denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations to assess the impact of his dysthymia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus on his employment.