Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has remained at level I hearing acuity throughout the appeal period, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of right ear hearing loss, left knee disability, or right knee disability for VA purposes. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea disability began during, or was otherwise caused by, his active duty service and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation since May 13, 2008, for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as they are found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the knees, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had in-service noise exposure and credible testimony of continuous symptoms since service, which are sufficient to establish a nexus between his current condition and service.

The Board has reopened the claim for left paravertebral muscle pull and granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are also found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event, injury, or disease that would support the claims.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 90 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated at a 30 percent rating, and the Board found that no higher rating was warranted. The claim for reopening of claims for PTSD, cardiovascular disease (including hypertension), memory loss, and cold injuries to the face, upper extremities and lower extremities, to include arthritis of the ankles, knees, elbows, feet and hands is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied. The TDIU claim is remanded due to lack of information regarding employment status.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher initial rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his previously denied claims. The Board also found that there was no link between the current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as non-compensable, with pure tone thresholds of up to 55 decibels in the right ear and up to 60 decibels in the left ear. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the period of February 20, 2013, through April 22, 2015.

The Veteran was found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of service-connected disabilities prior to November 15, 2012.

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