Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and hypertension, finding that these conditions are attributable to service. The lower leg swelling/edema issue is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, higher initial rating for PTSD and lumbosacral spine disability, as well as his claims for left knee and right knee disabilities. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's melanoma status post surgeries was not present during service or for many years thereafter, and is not etiologically related to active duty service. The presumption of service connection as a chronic disease is not applicable.,There is no current diagnosis or other competent finding of COPD. The Veteran does not have COPD.,The Veteran's hearing loss is not caused by an event, disease or injury in active duty service and the presumption of service connection as a chronic disease is not applicable.,The Veteran's tinnitus is not caused by an event, disease or injury in active duty service and the presumption of service connection as a chronic disease is not applicable.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and memory loss) is not etiologically related to active duty service and the presumption of service connection as a chronic disease is not applicable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not linked to disease or injury incurred in active service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing at the time of separation and no threshold shifts documented during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during active service and granted service connection. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for pleural disease remains denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 50 percent prior to October 5, 2017 and 60 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.,The Veteran is also service connected for dizziness (vertigo) which has been rated as 30 percent disabling. His TDIU claim was granted.

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

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324.

The Veteran's claim for retroactive VA disability compensation benefits prior to August 2006 was denied due to failure to complete a required VA examination and the discontinuation of payments following his return from active duty.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted as they are found to be related to his service. The claim for periodontal disease has been denied due to it not being a compensable disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and bilateral hearing loss claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent prior to June 6, 2017 and 30 percent thereafter. The Board finds the evidence does not support an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. For TDIU, the Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if audiograms used the Maryland CNC test, which could affect the determination of whether a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss was warranted prior to March 23, 2005.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to noise exposure during his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and multiple other conditions, have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The AOJ has determined that she is entitled to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with no other basis for connection provided. The claims have been granted.

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