Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his service, with noise exposure being a significant factor. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle ganglion cyst, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, and headaches have been granted. The Veteran is also assigned a 10% disability rating for his headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, while his hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left hamstring injury, and an emotional distress and depression (psychiatric disorder). The claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee was reopened but not granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, and psychiatric disability have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% effective March 2, 2011. The earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection is granted from March 2, 2011. No increased rating was granted for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 8, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during service or within one year after separation, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a nexus to military noise exposure.

The Board has found that the Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to November 26, 2014. For the period from November 26, 2014, the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he can obtain and maintain such employment.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and cervical spine disability are service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability have not been established as service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and dismissed the appeals regarding bilateral hearing loss, ptosis, and right thumb arthralgia.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. Tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder have been granted. The appeals are based on direct evidence of a link between the conditions and military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The case is being remanded for a new examination to evaluate the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as the previous evaluations are not adequate due to lack of use of the Maryland CNC Word Test.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims file.