Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to November 3, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to service and/or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 21, 2016 and as of that date was denied. The Board found no evidence supporting a rating higher than the current 10 percent or 20 percent ratings.,Service connection claims for right eye disorder, left eye disorder, alcohol dependence, liver disorder, renal disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and lower extremities were all denied.

The Veteran's Cesarean section scars are rated as 10 percent disabling. Service connection is granted for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and hearing loss, with the latter being assigned a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 1, 2010 were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Board has determined that the evidence currently of record is sufficient to substantiate the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred in service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder and remanded it to allow for further development. The claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen claims for right foot disorder and left foot disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The issue of an extraschedular rating and TDIU due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to his active military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for hepatitis residuals and bilateral hearing loss have not met the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's initial and increased rating claims for hearing loss were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for right ear hearing loss effective September 3, 2014. Prior to this date, the left ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations. From September 3, 2014 forward, the bilateral hearing loss also did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent prior to February 11, 2017. The Board found that the evidence supported a noncompensable rating for this period.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as service connected, with the Board finding it was incurred due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities and for an earlier effective date for service connection for a chronic right knee strain.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was manifested by at worst Level II hearing in the right ear and Level III hearing in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board found no basis to grant a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.,Service connection was also granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, with the Board indicating that the evidence supports a link between the Veteran's pre-existing condition and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU for the entire rating period on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted for these conditions.