Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the reduction in the evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss from 20 percent to zero percent was proper based on the improvement in his hearing acuity as shown by two VA examinations conducted after a previous May 2005 examination.

The Board has determined that the VA examination in 2007 is inadequate for adjudication purposes and remands the case to obtain a new examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for left ear hearing loss was reopened, but the new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are presumed to have been incurred during active military service due to noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA audiological examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing impairment to service. The VA examiners' opinions were considered most probative and supported their conclusion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development related to the perianal cyst excision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. A new VA orthopedic examination will be scheduled to determine the nature of his low back disabilities or conditions, and a new VA audiological examination will assess the severity of his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his complete service personnel records and VA/privately obtained medical records. He will be scheduled for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed lung disorder, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if he had any periods of Federalized National Guard service and to obtain updated medical records. His claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and chronic fatigue are currently under review.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and hypertension do not warrant initial compensable ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 10 percent prior to October 27, 2009 and increased to 70 percent thereafter. The right ear hearing loss disability remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that both conditions are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and granted it. The evidence received after the September 2004 rating decision is new and material, showing that the Veteran's current tinnitus is etiologically related to active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely as not related to his military service, including due to noise exposure. The evidence did not show any significant hearing problems during service or post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and finds it at least as likely as not that his current tinnitus is not related to service.