Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The hearing loss claim is remanded due to inadequate etiology opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for bilateral hearing loss, which is required to establish service connection. The evidence does not support finding service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss are being remanded due to a lack of VA examination and treatment records, which may affect the determination of whether his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and residuals of a right ankle fracture, did not render her unemployable prior to August 11, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran was unemployable due to a nonservice-connected psychotic disorder.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to March 3, 2014, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure. As a result, service connection for her left ear hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, which was service-connected, substantially and materially contributed to his death from fentanyl and gabapentin toxicity. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure in service, but further medical opinion is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation during service and concluding that the pre-existing condition worsened over time due to natural progression.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denials of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis.

Service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss is granted. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for residuals of a right wrist scaphoid fracture is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board found no evidence of worsening within two months prior to the April 2021 VA audiology evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is related to his current condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and right ear hearing loss, finding no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of record showing the condition warranted such a rating prior to July 5, 2022.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (zero percent) due to the presence of a nonservice-connected right ear with Level I hearing acuity.,There is no evidence of current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for allergic rhinitis, left ear hearing loss, hypertension, and PTSD were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating in any of these cases.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered with a new medical examination.