Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have begun during his military service and is therefore granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and prostate cancer residuals, needs further examination as the current VA examiner's opinion was internally inconsistent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service. The VA examiner concluded that it was less likely than not that the Veteran's hearing loss was caused by noise exposure in service.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant, through his authorized representative, has withdrawn it.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and did not address the initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss or residuals of a right knee contusion prior to May 6, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD is attributable to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity experienced in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are service-connected, but her head injury and anemia claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions. Her bilateral hearing loss and skin disorder (mycosis fungoides) were not incurred in service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 7, 2015, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied as the evidence does not support an increase in disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back strain and bilateral hearing loss, as new and material evidence has been received. The claim for service connection for low back strain remains pending on its merits, while the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to May 31, 2016, for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no objective audiological evidence of record to support such a rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level IV in the right ear and Level VII in the left ear, resulting in a 20% disability rating. The VA examiner found no evidence of an exceptional pattern of hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to afford the appellant a hearing at a VA facility near his current residence. The Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's Disease and bilateral hearing loss are also pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cold injury residuals affecting the bilateral feet, toes, and hearing loss in both ears. The decision also addressed a claim for TDIU but did not reach a final determination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his employment history and medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran was granted a noncompensable rating for his service-connected renal cell carcinoma of the left kidney since February 1, 2010, which was subsequently increased to 40 percent effective October 18, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent prior to October 1, 2015 and 50 percent from October 1, 2015. The Board finds that a higher rating for the period prior to October 1, 2015 is not warranted.

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