Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no persuasive evidence of a current disability that comports with VA regulations.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and he did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1310 or § 1318.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with TBI and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating effective July 18, 2019. Service connection for esophageal cancer is remanded due to the PACT Act's expansion of presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder. The Board finds the March 2022 private opinion of Dr. W. to be adequate and persuasive, finding that the current credible medical literature supports the finding that obstructive sleep apnea develops from PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of May 10, 2019. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and asthma were granted under the PACT Act with effective dates of August 10, 2022. An initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed, and the Board grants an initial rating of 10 percent for hypertension from August 22, 2022.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted and remanded due to the submission of new evidence indicating noise exposure during boot camp.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, and right hip disability. The appeal for a right knee disability is remanded, as well as the one for a low back disability and psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for deafness and hearing loss, finding that there was no error in the December 2, 1963 rating decision as the RO did not err in applying the presumption of soundness or in determining that the disabilities were not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the previous denial of service connection for right ear hearing loss disability was based on an inadequate examination, and thus remands the case for a new examination to determine if there is a current right ear hearing loss disability related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder, combined with other service-connected disabilities, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of May 1, 2018. The Board granted an effective date of May 1, 2018 for the award of TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the condition is related to active-duty service.

The Board has identified an error in the VA's duty to assist and has ordered a new VA examination for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's puretone thresholds and speech recognition scores do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a diagnosis of hearing loss within one year after separation from service. The Board also found that the current hearing loss does not have onset during service and is not related to military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation for hearing loss was denied, as his bilateral hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied due to lack of evidence showing he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied, but his left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.