Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board finds that the Veteran has a history of tinnitus since military service, which is considered an organic disease of the nervous system under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a).

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Veteran's service-connected conditions were evaluated based on the applicable schedular criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, combined with other disabilities rated at least 60%, meets the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate starting from May 16, 2017.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in obtaining an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure. The AOJ will obtain a new opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left wrist disability have been denied. The TDIU issue has been remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral foot fungus. Service connection is also granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left ankle enthesopathy, right ankle enthesopathy with LCL sprain, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and osteoarthritis of the right knee.,The Board has remanded service connection for a left hip condition, right hip condition, and right shoulder rotator cuff condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and a higher rating is not warranted.,His hypertension has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, bronchitis, cognitive disability (claimed as neurological signs and symptoms), and liver condition are all presumed to be related to service exposure. However, the claims for left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and sinusitis on a direct basis need further examination and evidence.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding that it was caused by events during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left leg disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The claims of service connection for PTSD, right leg disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing loss did not increase in severity during his active duty service and was not aggravated by it. The evidence showed no permanent shift in hearing thresholds from induction to separation.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 19, 2020 for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim was reasonably encompassed by a prior claim for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for atrial fibrillation, pulmonary granuloma, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete VA examinations and a lack of toxic exposure documentation. The Veteran's service records indicate he served as a pest management specialist with potential in-service exposures.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active-duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it was caused by noise exposure during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. For bilateral hearing loss, the evidence does not show a current disability as defined by VA regulations. For tinnitus, the Board found that it had its onset in service and continues to this day.

The reduction from a 20% to a 0% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was proper, and the Veteran's claim for reinstatement of the prior 20% rating is denied.,A rating in excess of 20% for bilateral hearing loss from December 12, 2018, to August 1, 2020, is denied.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from August 1, 2020, to March 15, 2021, is denied.,A 20% rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted from March 15, 2021.