Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent since August 25, 2011. His hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss meeting VA disability criteria, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing acuity did not warrant any higher evaluation under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his military service and/or his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The VA and private audiometric evaluations are consistent, with the March 2017 VA examination indicating that the Veteran has Level I hearing in both ears.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, effective September 1, 2016. The Veteran previously had non-compensable ratings.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to missing records and a need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically his incontinence from prostate cancer, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that entitlement to a TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, so the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left ankle disability. The appeal of these three issues is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back condition due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board found that VA's care or treatment was not negligent, and the Veteran's hearing loss and vertigo were reasonably foreseeable. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for these conditions cannot be granted as direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and bilateral ingrown toenails. The issues of nocturia and muscle spasms/twitching neck, upper, and lower extremities are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has found that the Veteran's back disorder is related to service, but there is no current evidence of a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and VA clinic records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, while his bilateral hearing loss may be related to service-connected posttraumatic headache disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma. Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been met.