Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, or residuals of surgically corrected deviated septum (including sleep apnea) that is service-connected.,There was no evidence presented to show these conditions originated during active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and its impact on employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of hearing loss, tinnitus, Meniere's disease, and back disability for additional development. The Veteran is to be provided with an opportunity to identify any relevant medical records and a VA examination will be scheduled if necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including gastroparesis, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II with tinea pedis, hypertension, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined effects of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination. The Veteran's representative was given an opportunity to submit studies related to delayed onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be at Level III in both ears prior to May 18, 2016, and at Level V in the left ear beginning May 18, 2016. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for hearing loss prior to May 18, 2016, and a rating higher than 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent 100% rating for hearing loss was granted, effective December 23, 2011. The effective date is not earlier than this as there is no evidence of an increase in disability prior to the filing of his increased rating claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, a right ankle disability (previously characterized as a bilateral ankle disability), and for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence received since the May 2007 rating decision supports these claims.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not compensable, but his schizophrenia, paranoid type, has been granted a 100% rating.,His TDIU claim is moot due to the grant of a 100% rating for his schizophrenia.

The Veteran's hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,The Veteran's bilateral knee condition is not etiologically related to active duty service.,The criteria for service connection for PTSD have not been met due to lack of corroborated stressor.,The Veteran's insomnia is not etiologically related to service and has been contemplated in the rating for his service-connected Anxiety and Alcohol Disorders.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is service-connected.,New evidence has reopened the claim for right ear hearing loss, but it remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are the result of acoustic trauma during his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are attributable to his noise exposure during active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal and thus no jurisdiction remains to adjudicate the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is as likely as not incurred in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, but the hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to her military service and granted service connection.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right and left ear hearing losses are service-connected, as they were present at the time of enlistment and aggravated during service. The tinnitus is also service-connected as it is a symptom of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing a VA audiologic examination.