Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's motion for revision of the March 2007 Board decision was dismissed as a matter of law due to the Court having decided the appellate claims addressed in that decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss are considered to be related to noise exposure during his military service, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, have rendered him unemployable due to his education and occupational experience. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current condition to his period of active duty. The new evidence submitted since the May 2002 decision did not provide a nexus between the Veteran's current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his exposure to noise trauma in service, and therefore grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, which now includes the Veteran's left ear. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with other service-connected conditions, prevents him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it was first manifested during his active duty and is etiologically related to noise exposure incurred during service. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's tinnitus and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and determine the nature and etiology of any tinnitus. The case will be reviewed by the RO after this development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he attributes to exposure to acoustic trauma in service. The case is REMANDED due to the need for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that none of the Veteran's service-connected conditions were principal or contributory causes of his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not due to noise exposure during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and right ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of duty status during training, obtaining VA treatment records, and scheduling new examinations.

The Board has withdrawn the claim of service connection for PTSD due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The low back disorder is granted as a direct result of in-service heavy lifting. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both found to be related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of a claim are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, treatment records retrieval, and compliance with recent legal mandates.

The rating reduction from 30 percent to 20 percent for a bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded as the evidence does not meet the requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 3.344.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and another opinion on whether it is related to in-service noise exposure or other events. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.