Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a new VA examination to assess his hearing loss and ingrown toenails.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inconsistencies in her hearing tests and the need for a new VA audiological evaluation to determine the nature and etiology of her hearing loss, if any, and whether it is related to her military service. The examiner should also address the likely etiology of her tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his complete personnel file and arranging for a VA audio examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss can be decided.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no legal basis to award higher ratings under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to exposure to noise during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The foot disorder issue remains pending as no clear decision was made.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a compensable initial evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the appeal is remanded due to incomplete medical records and need for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of funds and has ordered remand for further action.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected, but his tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted effective December 3, 2008. The Board found that the earliest date of receipt of a claim was December 3, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, shell fragment wound to the right thigh with postoperative vein graft, and bilateral hearing loss) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and eye disability due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The claims of increased rating for lower back disability, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and earlier effective date for TDIU are all pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board then granted service connection based on direct service connection due to a relationship between the disabilities and military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in service or within one year of discharge, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability existed prior to active service and did not increase in severity during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.