Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and is related to his military service, thus granting service connection for tinnitus. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and right knee condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused by his service-connected prostatitis, and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new audiological examination and obtaining any outstanding VA medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a pre-existing condition aggravated by service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and a skin condition affecting his legs and feet. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service hearing loss or arthritis, and concluded that any current hearing loss is not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met both the schedular criteria for a TDIU and precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from October 31, 2011 to March 20, 2014.

The Veteran's onychomycosis and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection, with the onychomycosis being granted as direct service connection. The Veteran is also awarded a 20% evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss since October 3, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and therefore service connection cannot be established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an otologist's opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The AOJ should also notify the Veteran about the unavailability of his requested records from the Saginaw and Detroit VAMCs.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are causally related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and otitis media preexisted service and were not aggravated by service. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and examination of the Veteran's claims, including right ear hearing loss, sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, lung disability, and eye disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within a year of separation, and is unrelated to in-service noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent from August 13, 2013. The Board denied his claim for a higher rating and TDIU due to the severity of his service-connected conditions not meeting the criteria for total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 26, 2017 was denied. The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss as of July 26, 2017 was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30 percent effective August 4, 2017. Prior to this date, the disability rating remained at 10 percent.