Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including additional VA examination and consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his pure tone thresholds did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge seated at the RO.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a head injury, to include detached retinas, as there is no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria.

The Board found that the appellant did not incur bilateral hearing loss during his active duty or active duty for training, and thus denied service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at noncompensable (0%) due to audiometric testing revealing no worse than Level II hearing in each ear since the effective date of service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection claims for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and a liver condition before the Board could issue a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient evidence to decide the claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection, reopening claims for bilateral hearing loss and frostbite are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person, or at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for increased initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied by the Board. The effective date of the rating increase from noncompensable to 20 percent is October 5, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, a right shoulder disability, residuals of hernia, bilateral eye disability (myopia or loss of vision), arthritis of the hands, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence submitted was found to be duplicative or cumulative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to service, with the presumption of soundness on induction for hearing loss. The claim for TDIU prior to April 6, 2010 is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between service and the condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The issue of whether service connection is warranted will be addressed on its merits.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal on all issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including hearing loss with ear infections, tinnitus, onychomycosis of the toes and fingers, left shoulder disability, right hip bursitis, osteopenia, and chronic rhinitis and sinus infections.