Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service. The Veteran's conditions were found not to be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service, with the medical opinions supporting this finding. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to his active service. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination during which he can provide a full history of his symptoms.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30% since August 1, 2017. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating for his left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and bilateral hearing loss meet the threshold requirements for a TDIU, as his combined disability ratings satisfy the criteria. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 16, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including a new VA audiological examination and clarification of speech recognition test results.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, erectile dysfunction (secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2), and right wrist disorder claimed as hand injury due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The remaining issues remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right forehead scar and left ear hearing loss were denied. The low back disability claim was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical spine disability was not rated higher than 60 percent, the psychiatric disability prior to May 15, 2014, was not rated higher than 30 percent, and from that date onwards, it was not rated higher than 70 percent. Bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and does not have a current psychiatric disorder. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The evidence shows that his current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was established for a cervical spine disorder, with the onset likely occurring during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's memory loss disability is not attributable to service, including herbicide exposure. The Board finds no evidence of a current memory loss disability and the medical opinions are against this claim.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, including obtaining records from a VA Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia. The case is being remanded to allow this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not aggravated during service and is not shown to have been aggravated by any service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for bilateral pes planus cannot be established.