Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and colon cancer have all been granted service connection. The claims were based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and reported occupational exposures.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the speech recognition test used in the January 2020 private audiological examination.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision found that the Veteran's current hearing impairments did not meet VA compensation criteria, but conceded in-service noise exposure. Service connection was granted on a presumptive basis for right ear hearing loss due to continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Veteran's claim of an increased rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to a pre-decisional error in failing to obtain VA medical records, specifically the audiometric testing results from February 2021.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The hearing loss disability issue is remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is due to service and the Board has granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of a proposed reduction in the rating for bilateral hearing loss because the reduction was not yet effectuated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for right ear hearing loss is denied, and the claim for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss has been dismissed due to their death.

The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 22, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a DRO hearing before issuance of the December 2019 decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left hip disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the April 2021 rating decision. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service noise exposure are not addressed by the VA examiner, necessitating a new opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for hearing loss, scleroderma, and tinnitus was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The AOJ will obtain a new VA opinion on the relationship between the disabilities and in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, alcohol and stimulant disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and left ear scar as the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability as there is no current diagnosis of the condition under VA compensation criteria.