Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss during service and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and left ankle fracture residuals, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since October 2005. The effective date for the TDIU is set at June 29, 2006.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and insufficient medical evidence, requiring further examination for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to unclear medical opinions and inadequate examination. The Veteran's lay statements regarding noise exposure are also considered.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability of hearing loss for VA purposes. The claim for tinnitus is remanded due to insufficient nexus opinion.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, but has found that there are issues with service connection for left knee osteoarthritis without dysplasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim is being remanded to obtain VA examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current disability and military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable during the appeal period, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, finding that observable symptoms began within the first post-service year and have persisted since.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability claim was previously denied in 1992 and cannot be appealed as no new rating decision has been issued since then.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and a need for clarification of the examiner's opinion. The Board will consider any new evidence submitted by the Veteran or his representative.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and a psychiatric disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 90 percent, but the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no legal basis for an increased rating and concludes that referral for extraschedular consideration is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected mental health, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest during or within one year after his military service and were not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right and left knee disabilities, and a cervical spine disability due to inadequate opinions in the prior VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records and arrange for new VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but denied service connection for left ear and right ear hearing loss.