Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent from September 24, 2007 through November 14, 2016 and a rating in excess of 30 percent since November 15, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and proliferative diabetic bilateral retinopathy remain on appeal. The case is REMANDED to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest during active service and there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's heart disability, diagnosed as congestive heart failure, was first manifested many years after service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current heart disability is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, while the Eustachian tube dysfunction is not.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for further development, including consideration of new evidence and a VA examination. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this additional review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is causally related to his exposure to noise while in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and proliferative diabetic bilateral retinopathy remain on appeal. The case is REMANDED to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of current VA examination for the Veteran's audiological conditions and potential worsening. The Veteran is requested to undergo another VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability in either ear, as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

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 Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and a respiratory disorder are remanded for additional development.

Service connection for a low back disorder is granted as the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated during service.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted as it had its onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. However, the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service. The issue of scrotal hernia was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's claim for bronchitis was denied due to lack of medical evidence showing the condition was related to service or an undiagnosed illness, and his claim for chronic sinusitis was denied due to lack of medical evidence showing the condition was related to service or an undiagnosed illness.,The VA audiological examination in April 2012 found no hearing loss disability under VA standards. The Veteran's tinnitus was attributed to his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral tinnitus and granted it, finding that there is at least as likely as not a causal relationship between the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus and his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as non-compensable. The VA examiner found the Veteran has hearing acuity of Level II in the right ear and Level III in the left ear, which corresponds to a non-compensable evaluation.