Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability prior to February 22, 2013 and beyond that date was denied. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on the audiometric findings.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30 percent effective May 24, 2016.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, verifying in-service stressors, and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral tinnitus, and back disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no evidence of worsening or additional disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and renal cell carcinoma, as well as secondary service connection for lytic lesions of the cervical spine, left hip, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and skull. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 23, 2013 for the grant of a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and spermatocelectomy scar on the scrotum do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and service treatment records. A new examination is also required for his PTSD and bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma exposure, which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for updated clinical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is etiologically related to his noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, proper VCAA notice, and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and left ear hearing loss are all service-connected. The tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred during active duty due to noise exposure. The degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is considered a chronic condition that became manifest within one year of separation from active duty. The left ear hearing loss is not service connected as it did not become manifest within one year of separation and there is no evidence of aggravation by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested in service and has continued since, meeting the criteria for service connection. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus effective from October 7, 2011. The May 18, 2012 rating decision was found to contain legal error in the assignment of probative value to evidence so as to not constitute a reasonable exercise of rating judgment.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and optic atrophy have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 80 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.,The Veteran's motion to revise or reverse the March 2015 and May 2015 rating decisions on the basis of CUE was denied.