Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. As a result, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local RO.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have not been rated higher than noncompensable levels.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a hearing at his local VA office due to his inability to travel to the Washington D.C. office.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of service dates and obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports these claims. Service connection is now granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are still pending.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate since August 1, 2010 is denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC under VA regulations.

The Board denied an increased initial rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran's appeal of this decision is pending before the Court, and a remand to the AOJ to schedule him for a videoconference hearing has been ordered.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing acuity did not meet VA compensation criteria for a disability. The claims were based on direct evidence of in-service noise exposure without additional medical nexus.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current condition. The issues of asthma and COPD due to asbestos exposure are remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of chronic hearing loss during or within one year after service. The VA audiological examinations and opinions did not support a finding of a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The back disability claim is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, scars, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unemployable due to his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's overpayment of $6,852.00 was created due to his failure to notify VA of the death of his wife S.S.L., resulting in an overpayment for her additional benefits. The Board found that the Veteran had fault and contributed to the creation of the debt, but also noted that recovery would not violate equity and good conscience as it did not deprive him or his family of basic necessities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and he has met the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of August 1, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in active service and is not otherwise the result of a disease or injury incurred in active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as there is no indication that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.