Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA treatment records related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran at least as likely as not incurred bilateral hearing loss as a result of active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability meeting VA standards.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for left hand disability and bilateral hearing loss disability. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but denied for gonorrhea and any residual thereof, as well as psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and National Guard/Reserve personnel records. The Veteran's hearing loss is to be evaluated in light of his active duty and National Guard service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure and service connection is granted.

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

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss had its onset in service and is related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability of post nasal drip, which existed prior to service but worsened during service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied as he does not have any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise and granting the benefit of the doubt to the Veteran.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been manifested by a level III for the right ear and level IV for the left ear, resulting in a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board granted this claim.

The Veteran's claim for hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of April 28, 2011 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Video Conference Hearing with a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an examination. The initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered.

The Veteran is service connected for several disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction. The Board finds it at least as likely as not that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 70 percent since April 21, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.,For TDIU prior to April 21, 2011, the Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's left-sided hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since December 11, 2006. The VA audiological examinations conducted in April 2009 and February 2012 showed that the Veteran had Level I hearing impairment in both ears, which corresponds to a 0 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during combat. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, pterygium, and right ear hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.