Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's lay statements, medical literature, and service treatment records have been considered in this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist and for additional evidence to be considered. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, anxiety and depression, and bilateral hearing loss are being reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's military noise exposure is at least as likely as not related to his current condition.,Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for compensable disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is rated at 100% effective from June 8, 2011.,SMC based on housebound status is granted from December 9, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss as the veteran does not have a current diagnosed disability, and therefore, there is no basis to grant service connection.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has determined that it is related to service. The Veteran's tinnitus, which was already service-connected, remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to in-service hazardous noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of clarity in the medical opinion provided, which did not consider all relevant facts and threshold shifts found in the service treatment records. The Veteran's hearing loss is related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claim for depression is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his depression is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The Board also denied the Veteran's TDIU claim due to his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The decision is based on continuity of symptomatology and the Veteran's reported noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his service-connected hearing loss results in no worse than Level I hearing acuity in the right and left ears.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus was also denied, as his disability is currently rated at 10 percent under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active-duty service and granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found no prior formal or informal claims for these conditions prior to March 7, 2012.,For the initial compensable rating of bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran is currently rated at a Level XI from July 14, 2014, forward.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the evidence does not show current hearing impairment as defined by VA regulations.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on a finding that the Veteran's tinnitus likely began during his military service, despite conflicting opinions from medical experts.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss began during active service due to noise exposure from military activities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for diverticulosis and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and thoracolumbar spine condition.,Further investigation is needed to determine if there is a link between these conditions and active service.