Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has found that additional development is required before the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability can be decided. The case is REMANDED to obtain medical records, schedule a VA examination, and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the absence of service treatment records, the need for a new medical opinion based on current clinical examination and history, and the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for left-ear hearing loss and is granting it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current low back disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The hearing loss was granted, but at a non-compensable rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be remanded to allow for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim can be decided. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss will need to be examined and evaluated, and additional evidence may also be requested.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during active service, and the Board finds that the evidence in favor of the claim outweighs any against it. As such, the benefit of the doubt has been resolved in the Veteran's favor.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for a Statement of the Case on whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for hearing loss. The tinnitus issue is held in abeyance until this matter is resolved.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective July 1, 2009. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD prior to that date and also denied TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA medical examinations and consideration of the submitted evidence. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding cellulitis of the left lower extremity and incomplete development on other issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is less likely caused by his service-connected PTSD. The left ear hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine if he requires aid and attendance of another or is housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the merits of these issues material to the determination. The preponderance of the evidence suggests that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with substance abuse and alcoholism, tinnitus, left varicocele, scarring secondary to facial acne, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to May 1, 2008.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability that meets VA criteria for service connection, and the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is likely due to noise exposure during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and thus denied his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.