Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis pre-existed service and did not worsen during service, thus denying service connection. For bilateral hearing loss, the VA examiner noted a lack of separation examination available at the time of appointment, which is required to determine if there was aggravation.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service, while his right ear hearing loss appeal was withdrawn. Service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for needing regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection was granted for tinnitus based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and colon disorder. The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or depressive disorder). The Board also granted a 20 percent rating for each lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be the result of noise exposure during military service, and therefore service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression), and right ear hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is pending, and his initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 10, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disability to include asbestosis and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are inextricably intertwined due to the pending service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss disability is not shown to have been manifested by worse than Level I hearing acuity in that ear. Therefore, an initial compensable rating for the condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a hearing, and providing an examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and benign positional vertigo.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to active duty service and therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 30 percent, which is below the threshold required. The Board finds that his disabilities are not so severe as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been shown to be worse than Level III in the right ear or Level II in the left ear, which falls within the schedular criteria for a 0 percent rating. Therefore, the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA audiological examination due to the lack of adequate speech discrimination test results from the previous examination. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss will be evaluated based on current nature, severity, and functional impact.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.