Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions likely preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a videoconference hearing. His claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and any pertinent private treatment records. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete service records and a need for additional medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding no current disability in either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss disability. The case will be returned for a new VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability for hearing loss and insufficient evidence linking tinnitus to service. The effective date of the grant of service connection for PTSD was set at April 28, 2003.

The Board has determined that another attempt should be made to schedule the Veteran for necessary VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities due to incomplete service records, including those from National Guard service and both periods of active duty. The case is also remanded to obtain dental treatment eligibility determinations.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current disability rating does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to April 22, 2013, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The case is now limited to the issue of service connection for scarring on both eyes/dry eyes.

The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. The claim for residuals of an aneurysm or cerebrovascular accident (stroke), to include loss of vision, remains on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by no more than Level I hearing acuity in both ears, and therefore does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that further development of the claim is needed due to an inadequate VA opinion. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for a new medical examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to his active military service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his active service, including exposure to loud noises during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular percentage criteria for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) and his claim is remanded due to a lack of an examination addressing the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.