Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for HIV, bilateral hearing loss, and a chronic skin disorder. The Veteran's HIV was not present in service or until many years thereafter and is not related to service. Service connection for the chronic skin disorder was granted effective June 30, 2005, but prior to March 9, 2012, the disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 14, 2009.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right ear disability and a right hernia disability has been remanded due to the lack of substantial compliance with previous Board orders. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issues of service connection for inner ear disease or vestibular dysfunction, hearing loss, and an earlier effective date for service connection for depressive and anxiety disorders are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, diabetes mellitus to include pseudophakia, tinnitus, and residual scar of the right ear) are rated at a combined 80 percent. The Board finds that these conditions render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to noise from aircraft on the flight line. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for left and right trapezius strain, as well as the matters of service connection for a right ankle disability and sleep apnea (claimed as due to PTSD). The other claims are being considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and examinations related to his claimed disabilities, including a back disability, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and PTSD. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current cervical spine injury with compression fracture at C4 is related to his in-service injuries, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as Level II in each ear, warranting a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Board has determined that there is a state of equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, and therefore grants both claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a video conference hearing and his disagreement with the denial of service connection for a left elbow disability. The case will be returned to the Board after these issues are addressed.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since August 26, 1996.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ankle condition is service-connected due to in-service injury, but his right ear hearing loss disability does not meet VA compensation criteria for a current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) as he does not meet the requirements of being permanently housebound by reason of his service-connected bullous emphysema.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a low back disability. The decision is based on the evidence of record, which did not provide sufficient information to grant the requested increased ratings or establish service connection.