Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic venous insufficiency of the bilateral lower extremities and associated depression with anxiety, render him unemployable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or COPD, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and neck disorder are related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of clear and unmistakable error in rating decisions for bilateral hearing loss and individual unemployability due to a lack of appellate jurisdiction by the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is about the appropriate disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and whether an earlier effective date should be granted for the 30 percent disability rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, and therefore denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected chronic inflammation of the chest (diagnosed as pulmonary fibrosis) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a current disability that meets the VA definition of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his heart condition and bilateral hearing loss disability were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and etiology opinion.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and his initial 10 percent rating for tinnitus are denied as there is no legal basis to award a higher schedular disability rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is denied, as are the claims for initial compensable evaluations for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess his hearing loss and skin disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, reduction of evaluations for right knee sprain, left knee sprain, and left ankle sprain have been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and the reductions in evaluation were found to be improper.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA examination and records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of SSA records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at a compensable level of 10%.