Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss or any increase in the disability rating for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure and began during active service. The decision does not assign a specific rating or effective date.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to the lack of evidence linking it to service. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus disability and a rating in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that any current sinus condition was related to active duty, and there were no findings of any sinus or nasal complaints or disabilities during service or within one year following separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including fibromyalgia, generalized anxiety disorder (also claiming other specific depressive disorder), muscle joint pain of the right knee, gastric ulcers, chronic fatigue syndrome, tension headaches, respiratory insufficiency, restless leg syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and right hip strain. The decision is based on reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable under the VA rating schedule. The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss significantly impacts his employment and daily life, warranting an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant due to lack of blindness in both eyes, burns or inhalation injuries.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is denied because the evidence does not establish that it was caused by service exposure to noise, and there is no continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's claim for left ankle sprain is denied due to lack of a causal link between the in-service injury and current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision resolves any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for hypertension and prostate cancer. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure. Hypertension is not shown to be related to service or a year after separation. Prostate cancer is not currently diagnosed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus cannot establish service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervicalgia, residuals of left foot injury with instability, bilateral hearing loss, and cold weather injury of the left upper extremity. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,There was no credible evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the previous decision. The case is being remanded for further evaluation and opinion.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the service-connected left ear hearing loss, citing insufficient evidence to warrant such a rating based on audiometric test results.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, but has remanded the issue of his bilateral hearing loss due to potential duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely substantive appeal was received in response to the February 2020 Statement of the Case, and thus the appeal is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his military service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.