Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially found to be noncompensable prior to August 31, 2013. Beginning on that date, the Veteran is now eligible for a compensable rating of 20%.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is due to multiple post-service injuries and not related to his service, thus denying service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's hearing loss, which meets VA standards for disability, is the result of an injury incurred during military service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service in the United States Air Force and grants service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information about the Veteran's service periods and a need for an opinion regarding whether his current bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. The claim will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be adjudicated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service noise exposure. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease were denied as his conditions did not warrant higher disability ratings based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of cold injury with osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum to the VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are etiologically related to noise exposure during active military service. Service connection was denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudication due to issues regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a left eye disability, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities or present symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board making a decision.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to April 27, 2011, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the audiometric test results provided.