Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's left-ear hearing loss and chloracne were not service-connected as the evidence does not show a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be a result of his active duty service, specifically during his Army Reserve service. Service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and denied a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's symptoms of snoring, fatigue, and daytime tiredness are considered in-service and have continued since his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA audiology examination to address the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his service, but his right ear hearing loss is not. The claim for left ear hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during his military service. The Board also found that the current manifestations are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Court held that evidence added to the record since the May 2005 rating decision, denying service connection for PTSD, is new and material, and the claim for service connection is reopened. However, the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, liver disorder, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and skin cancer have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, with a specific rating of 20 percent for lumbosacral discogenic disease. The other conditions are rated as compensable.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including noise exposure during combat. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, sleep impairment, and memory loss have been denied. The Board has also determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, heart disability, or hypertension.

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

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for right total knee replacement and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of an increased rating or service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his inservice acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection as they are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of their appeals regarding earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board has dismissed the appeals as a result.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD with alcohol dependence, and peripheral vascular disease, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused his death. Effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a residual scar are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Board finds no legal basis for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is manifested by no worse than Level I hearing acuity in the right ear and Level VIII hearing acuity in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6100. The Board found that the available schedular ratings adequately capture the Veteran's level of disability.