Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities, including DDD of the lumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current conditions were not found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. Bilateral hearing loss is presumed due to in-service noise exposure, while tinnitus is considered secondary to his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO or by live videoconference.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The Veteran's PTSD has also been granted, with a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as non-compensable, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and PTSD were denied in October 2004. He submitted a new claim to reopen his previously denied claims on November 15, 2010, which resulted in the grant of service connection for both conditions effective November 15, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal for an increase in his service-connected bilateral hearing loss claim was withdrawn at the VA Travel Board hearing. The left hip labral tear is found to be aggravated by a service-connected disability (lumbar spine with radiculopathy).,Service connection granted for left hip injury, specifically a labral tear and degenerative joint disease, based on aggravation of these conditions due to a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

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

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted effective March 19, 2012. The appeals seeking earlier effective dates prior to this date are denied.,No service connection was established before March 19, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran died from cardiopulmonary arrest due to sepsis syndrome. The Board found that this condition was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The Veteran had a compensable rating prior to November 17, 2016 and an initial 20 percent rating from that date onwards.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service. The VA examinations did not find any link between his current conditions and service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to September 29, 2015. As of that date, the rating for his bilateral hearing loss is 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as Level I in both ears, corresponding to a 0 percent rating under the rating criteria of Table VII. The disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his left ear and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is less likely as not related to military noise exposure.

The Board has ordered a VA examination for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, but finds that the results are not reliable and may be due to non-organic hearing loss. The case is REMANDED for further development including obtaining additional audiometric test results and reviewing any follow-up treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at previously scheduled VA examinations and requests for additional evidence. The claims will be reconsidered after completing any necessary development.