Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is related to his exposure to loud noise during active duty. The right knee disability claim was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the inadequate nature of the February 2010 VA examination, which did not address the threshold shifts in hearing from service. The Court also found that the August 2015 testimony regarding tinnitus was not adequately addressed by the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate development of his claim for a total disability rating by reason of individual unemployability (TDIU). The AOJ must ensure that the Veteran undergoes an adequate VA examination and obtain an opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, epicondylitis of the right elbow, and low back disability, preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination report and needs to obtain a new VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's left eye aphakia and bilateral hearing loss have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions. The Board has granted a disability rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss from June 23, 2010.

The Veteran was granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders from June 2, 2009 to March 6, 2013. The issue of entitlement to this benefit for any periods prior to June 2, 2009 remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are at least as likely as not due to service, while malaria and asbestosis have no current evidence of a disability. The claim for malaria is denied, and the claim for asbestosis is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, TMJ dysfunction, radiculopathy, and neck disability. The RO also determined that the Veteran did not meet criteria for TDIU prior to June 24, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board videoconference hearing to address his claim of entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability due to the service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's hearing loss has been manifested by not worse than Level I hearing impairment in the right ear and Level VI hearing impairment in the left ear, warranting a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's eye disability is not related to his active duty service, but he has tinnitus that is related to his military service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability may be due to noise exposure during service and postservice work history.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss, sleep apnea, and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain VA treatment records. The issues of increased ratings for hearing loss, tension headaches, cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy are pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of bilateral inguinal hernias, migraine headaches, and low back disability have all been denied as there is no evidence to support the presence or causation of these conditions during his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss and granted it, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by his military service. The right knee disability and lower back disability claims are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, with no presumption or secondary connection established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected diplopia and the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the latter being secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial (compensable) rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiology evaluation to assess the current severity of his disability.