Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The evidence does not show a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss related to service, and the Board finds that the Veteran's claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an additional VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development and review.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for tinnitus and a proposed severance of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's appeal is currently on hold until these matters are resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by hearing acuity no worse than level II in the right ear and level II in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not warrant a compensable rating for his disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not incurred in service due to credible reports of noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not include loss or permanent use of one or both feet, hands, vision, a severe burn injury, or ALS. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, resulting in a denial of the reopening request.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year thereafter. The left shoulder degenerative joint disease was found to be aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.,Service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease has been granted on the basis that it was aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 24, 2015 was denied. From July 24, 2015 onwards, the Veteran is not entitled to any disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted a 10 percent extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 15, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since the initial grant of service connection. The most recent VA examinations have consistently shown that his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability was not incurred in service and is against finding a relationship to service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss more likely than not began due to age or post-service occupational and recreational noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for sleep apnea, and left knee disability were denied. The claim for service connection for a bilateral elbow disability was not addressed as it is considered outside the scope of this appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has not resulted in a compensable evaluation during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent since the May 2009 VA audiology examination. The most recent September 2015 VA audiometry test did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a hearing loss disability during service or within one year following discharge, and the most probative evidence indicates that the current left ear hearing loss disability is not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's leg disability is considered secondary to a service-connected back disability and claimed diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence supported these claims.