Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient examination report and need for additional opinion regarding etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service exposure, while obstructive sleep apnea is also found to be related to service. The claim for a higher initial rating for Parkinson's disease remains on appeal.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were denied, with the Board finding that his service-connected disabilities did not warrant higher evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss had been manifested by no worse than level III hearing acuity in the right ear and level III hearing acuity in the left ear. An acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety, was not shown in service or within the first post-service year, and has not been shown by competent evidence to be related to a disease or injury of service origin.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is not related to his military service, as there was no in-service noise injury specifically affecting his left ear.

The Veteran's left leg radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent since October 22, 2009 and denied for an increased rating. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at a noncompensable level prior to April 21, 2014 and at a 10 percent level thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond these levels.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, including noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability and therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied. The issue of diabetes mellitus, type II remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the issuance of an SOC on his TDIU claim and scheduling a Travel Board or videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a more contemporaneous VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss results in only level I hearing impairment, which corresponds to a noncompensable disability rating. The claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's assertions regarding the onset of his tinnitus and symptoms since service are credible. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for obtaining updated VA treatment records from the Tampa VAMC. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gum disease, and skin disorder will be re-adjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for his requested videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, and asbestos plaques remain pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to his active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no nexus between her current hearing loss disability and in-service noise exposure or ear infections. The Board also found that she did not meet the criteria for a current hearing loss disability under VA regulations.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability in April 2014. The case was remanded and recertified, but the Veteran withdrew his appeal in February 2016.