Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection claims have been denied. His tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and he does not have any diagnosed ear disabilities other than his service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a compensable rating for generalized periodontitis and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea before the Board could issue a decision. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, cervical spine, and lumbar spine. However, it has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence establishing a current disability and/or a link between the claimed conditions and service. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for PTSD, but did not find any material evidence relating to the left hip disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial noncompensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and the maximum schedular disability rating of 10 percent for tinnitus are maintained.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his in-service noise exposure and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the Veteran's claims may be adjudicated on the merits. This includes obtaining missing service treatment records and conducting VA examinations for hearing loss, sleep apnea, and a back condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The left ear hearing loss is also granted as a result of aggravation during service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, back disability, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, headaches, and organic mental disorder have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the Appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

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

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 18, 1978, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as a matter of law.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disability, as well as the need for a statement of the case on the denial of service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right hydrocele is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's post-operative inguinal hernia repair is also rated as noncompensable. The VA examinations did not find any current hernia or weakening of the abdominal wall.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease is rated at 20 percent effective from July 7, 2010. The Board denied an increased rating for the disability prior to that date.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disorder due to favorable decisions on other granted issues.