Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and knee disability. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection or an increased rating for his right ear hearing loss. The current evidence does not support a finding of current disability with respect to this condition, and there is no audiometric reading at any time since the current claim was filed that supports a current right ear hearing loss disability. For the left ear hearing loss, while the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss impacts his life in significant ways, the Board finds that it does not warrant an increased rating beyond 0 percent.

The case is being remanded for compliance with prior remand directives, including providing a correct date of the last prior final denial and obtaining a supplemental medical opinion on whether the Veteran's tinnitus or hearing loss were proximately caused by an event not reasonably foreseeable as a result of VA treatment in October 2006.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his period of service, including any in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss first manifested during service or is otherwise etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensable under the rating criteria, and the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current dizziness to service or a service-connected condition. Service connection for allergic rhinitis with sinusitis was granted, but not at a compensable rating as there were no incapacitating episodes of sinusitis or 3-6 non-incapacitating episodes per year.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's hypertension to his service or to his service-connected coronary artery disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during military service and is not otherwise related to such service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA audiological examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, including on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, while the claim for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. Her claim for a higher rating for sinusitis with headaches was also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for this condition. The decision on whether the Veteran is entitled to service connection for sleep apnea remains pending as it is not clear if the appeal was about service connection at all.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was not aggravated by service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a skin tag (originally claimed as a third nipple). The evidence received since the last denial is considered new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's sleep apnea has not been shown to be related to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he is not entitled to service connection for this condition. The TDIU claim will be remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.