Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, low back strain, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that he meets this criterion for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least in part due to noise exposure during active service. The other issues on appeal have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and readjudicating the service connection claim for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss have been reopened. However, the evidence does not establish that he has current hearing loss disability in either ear.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been denied as the current disability levels do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular evaluation standards.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was manifested by no more than level VI hearing impairment in the right ear, and level XI hearing impairment in the left ear. The Board finds that a rating in excess of 50 percent for this condition is not warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence does not establish a nexus between current disabilities and in-service noise exposure. The increased rating claims for knee disabilities are also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as his current level of hearing impairment did not warrant a higher rating. His claim for a higher initial rating for GERD remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as his audiometric results did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his essential tremor and Parkinson's disease, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left long finger disability were granted, but the hearing loss remains at a non-compensable rating. The left long finger was granted with separate ratings for scarring and limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability that meets the VA compensation criteria.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability and found new evidence does not relate to a chronic sinusitis or hypercholesterolemia/hyperlipidemia. Service connection is denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and left ear hearing loss are related to his active military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus to his military service, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his TDIU based on service-connected bilateral hearing loss was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss itself does not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.