Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, neck disorder, knee disorders, hip disorders, and hand disorders are all granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's claim of reopening a hearing loss disability is pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left eye disability, as new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability is found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 13, 2015 and since that date has been denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his scar on the left thigh was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to June 9, 2014, and in excess of 10 percent from June 9, 2014, for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that he is entitled to such ratings based on the standard rating criteria.

The Board determined that the reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 70 percent to 30 percent effective July 1, 2010 was proper. The Veteran appealed this decision and the Court vacated it on the basis that the Board did not adequately discuss whether the improvement in hearing after May 2009 reflected an improvement in ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, but he is not eligible for a special home adaptation grant as his claim is moot.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. A social and industrial survey will also be conducted to determine if he qualifies for TDIU.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric results did not meet the criteria for any higher rating prior to April 10, 2015 and were only rated at 10% thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, providing proper VCAA notice, and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dislocated ribs have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the March 2010 rating decision that granted service connection for otitis externa and denied service connection for hearing loss and asthma. The issue of timeliness of NOD is denied.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure during active service, while his tinnitus is also linked to such exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for hemorrhoids and service connection for left ear hearing loss have been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the remaining claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the purpose of obtaining VA audiology consult results and treatment records to determine his current level of bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied in April 2008. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at June 8, 2012.