Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss have been dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew his appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and service connection is granted. The Veteran's STRs reflect he had pre-existing right ear hearing loss upon entrance into service, but no left ear hearing loss. Service connection is also granted for his lung/respiratory disability as secondary to asbestos exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and reopened the claims for service connection for back disorder and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss claim is remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain new VA etiology opinions for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The current opinions are deemed inadequate due to factual inaccuracies and lack of discussion regarding threshold shifts in hearing during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Veteran's Reserve service and providing medical opinions on various claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since April 2005. The Board finds that the current evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is service-connected, as it was aggravated by his military service. The right shoulder disability and chronic laryngitis/laryngopharyngeal reflux (claimed as sinus problems) are not service-connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence showing these conditions were present during or within one year after service. The Board also found that the contemporaneous medical records are more probative than remote statements regarding when the Veteran first noticed hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, while his bilateral hearing loss is not considered to be related to his time in active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be more closely approximated by a 10 percent evaluation throughout the appeal period, with his April 2016 audiometric results being considered more indicative of his disability picture than those from July 2016. The Board granted an initial compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder (allergic rhinitis/hay fever, sinusitis and asthma/asthmatic bronchitis) and hearing loss. The Veteran's respiratory disorder is found to have been aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board finds that the current evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted. For diabetes mellitus, the rating prior to January 13, 2017 remains unchanged at 20 percent; however, a higher rating of 40 percent is granted since that date.

The VA reduced the disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10% to 0%, effective May 1, 2010. However, this reduction was not proper because it did not consider recent audiometric test results.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on all issues was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for PTSD, tinnitus, or the residuals of a stab wound to the abdomen with laparotomy and small bowel repair with scars as these conditions are already rated at their maximum levels under applicable VA regulations.