Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and providing notice as specified in Dingess v. Nicholson.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records and clarify actions taken by the RO in obtaining his service records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA audiological consultation records and a right leg disability examination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen any of his previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected hearing loss and hypertension.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to his active service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for Meniere's disease remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during combat in Vietnam. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his level of impairment does not warrant a higher evaluation under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral eye disability, and hepatitis C have been reopened due to the submission of new medical evidence. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disorder is found to be related to exposure to acoustic trauma during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vestibular schwannoma, which was diagnosed in December 2004, is likely present from service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability, initially rated as noncompensably disabling prior to October 28, 2009, and rated as 30 percent disabling from that date.

The Board has determined that none of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a scar from a mortar fragment wound in the right arm, caused or contributed to his death from a traumatic subarachnoid hematoma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.