Hearing loss decisions — 2014

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

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and further examination is required.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to hazardous noise levels as an aviation structural mechanic. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The appeal is not ready for appellate review until this issue is resolved.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus cannot be granted as there is no evidence of in-service onset or aggravation. The claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded to obtain a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the remand.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are confirmed, with the Board finding that these conditions are due to acoustic trauma incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of his claims, including obtaining additional medical records and providing him with VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of malaria residuals and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide additional examinations and obtain a supplemental opinion regarding his service-connected right ear hearing loss and dry eye syndrome. The claims will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The reduction of the disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 70 percent to zero percent was proper as the evidence at the time supported a material improvement in the Veteran's service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. The decision grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss or nerve damage to his active duty service, and denied both claims.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is found to have its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for basic eligibility for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits has been granted. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, as well as the claims for PTSD, back disability, neck disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and traumatic brain injury have also been addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to service, while his bilateral hearing loss is not. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a psychiatric evaluation to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The hearing loss claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his preexisting conditions were aggravated by active duty service.