Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and missing records. The Veteran's hearing loss is being reviewed again with a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and osteoarthritis of the bilateral foot are related to service, with new evidence received since previous decisions raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that a new medical opinion is needed due to the inadequacy of the previous examination's reasoning and because the Veteran disputes the timing of his hearing loss onset.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they meet the criteria for consideration as disabilities due to in-service noise exposure, with continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the likelihood that his current disabilities were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, and thus denied the claim of service connection for this disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, back, hip, and knee disabilities are not service-connected. The bilateral hearing loss is granted as secondary to service due to acoustic trauma. The respiratory disorder (COPD) is denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated and found to be no higher than a 0 percent rating, as his puretone thresholds did not meet the criteria for any compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable (0%) since June 27, 2008. The VA and private audiometric evaluations have consistently shown that the Veteran's hearing impairment does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his thoracolumbar spine disability was granted, and he is now rated at 40 percent. His service-connected bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are claimed as related to noise exposure in service. The Veteran served as an Air Policeman where he was exposed to jet engine noise.

The Veteran's initial non-compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and a subsequent increase to 10 percent disabling effective June 4, 2016. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the Veteran should have received an earlier effective date of March 4, 2014, but decided in his favor.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and the effective date for service connection is set at June 24, 1991. The effective date for the increased rating of 20 percent is August 4, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, back disability, and left ear hearing loss are not attributable to his active service.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling an audiological examination. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being evaluated to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations and incomplete medical records.