Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to noise during combat in Vietnam. As such, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss, but not for bilateral knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss from 20 percent to noncompensable effective March 1, 2013 was improper and restored the previously assigned 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service. Service connection was also granted for larynx cancer, but an initial compensable rating remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a pulmonary disorder (chronic bronchitis), renal disorder (renal artery stenosis with renal insufficiency), and psychiatric disorder. The decision found that these conditions were not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and an SOC for the issue of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss will be remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. However, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA audiological examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, including noise exposure as a helicopter pilot. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of an injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be granted as there is no evidence of a current disability, or a relationship between any such disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate disorder, left eye injury, bilateral hearing loss, and sinus condition. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection in any of these cases.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for a new VA audiological examination. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being reviewed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disorder and left ear hearing loss, finding that he did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on functional limitations or additional disability due to pain.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability was denied because he failed to report for a VA audiological examination without good cause.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for vertebral fracture, T10 compression was denied. The Board found no basis for the requested increased ratings based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's hearing acuity has not reached a level sufficient to warrant a compensable rating under the schedular criteria, and his claim for a higher rating is denied.