Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea. The VA will obtain relevant medical records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including residuals of CABG, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and diabetic nephropathy, are sufficient to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As a result, TDIU is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for bilateral foot pes cavus, bilateral foot calcaneal spur, left foot plantar fasciitis, and PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% from September 1, 2012.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The claims were denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, with the Board finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during or were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cataracts, macular degeneration, presbyopia, and dermatochalasis was withdrawn. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment or other factors warranting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records. The right ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disabilities, prostate disability, and anal disability will be evaluated further.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as his audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of a hearing loss disability within one year post-service. The VA and private medical opinions were against a finding of in-service noise exposure leading to hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is related to service exposure, and thus grants service connection for hearing loss.

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

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his current level of hearing impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a staged rating of 60 percent effective from February 26, 2013. Ratings for the condition in excess of this are not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss did not increase in severity during service and is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no current disability or evidence of in-service injury. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for COPD were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran had not established entitlement to either benefit.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The issues of CUE in the 1976 RO decision and earlier effective date for service connection were also addressed, but no specific outcome is provided.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as obtain a copy of the Sacramento Bee article discussed at the August 2013 DRO hearing. Additionally, the VA must attempt to obtain the Veteran's complete Social Security Administration (SSA) record.