Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or environmental exposures related to his Persian Gulf War service. The claim for tinnitus was remanded due to failure to consider all relevant medical records.

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

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathies associated with diabetes mellitus type II, diabetes mellitus type II, RLE and LLE peripheral neuropathies also associated with diabetes mellitus type II, tinnitus, and sinusitis, have resulted in a combined rating of 70 percent from December 30, 2019. The Board has granted an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 11, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no medical evidence establishing a nexus between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. The Board considered the Veteran's lay statements but found them not competent to establish causation.

Your hearing loss in the right ear is now considered service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left knee arthritis, and initial ratings for left hip limitation of flexion and extension, as well as left ankle arthritis. The decision found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for higher disability ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred in service due to combat noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within a presumptive period, and that the disabilities are not otherwise etiologically related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and medical opinions regarding service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and cervical spine strain.

The Board has denied service connection for joint pain condition and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, and athlete's foot due to missing service treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss because it was not filed within one year from notification of the March 2019 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for additional medical opinions.

Your claim for service connection for hearing loss has already been granted, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and PTSD, have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board finds it at least as likely as not that the Veteran is in need of such assistance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to a TDIU, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service or toxic exposure. The issues have not been fully adjudicated yet.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD due to potential errors in decision-making and the need for additional evidence or medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and awarded a 10% rating effective January 8, 2020. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 2, 2017 is also granted as the issue of service connection for tinnitus was within the scope of his initial hearing loss claim.