Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain with arthropathy, necessitate the need for an automobile to accommodate his mobility limitations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his hypertension, and adjudicating the claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claims. The appellant should be afforded examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence. His tinnitus claim, which was granted in June 2009, is also on appeal and requires review by the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records from private doctors not currently in his claims file. The case will be returned to the Board after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have been incurred in service due to exposure to loud noise from combat.,The claim for type II diabetes mellitus was reopened as new and material evidence has been submitted, but the issue of service connection remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The VA will need to obtain a new VA examination and opinion that takes into account the pre-service hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has remained at a noncompensable level pursuant to VA regulations. A compensable rating is therefore not warranted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports reopening of his original claim and both conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and heart disease have been granted, as well as his claim for TDIU. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a low back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The RO must obtain records of post-service audiometry testing and any relevant private treatment or evaluation records from the chiropractic source that the Veteran testified had been his sole source of treatment since the 1980s.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and right foot fibroma prior to August 16, 2010 have been granted. The Veteran is also entitled to a compensable rating for his right foot fibroma prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically his exposure as a field artillery specialist without proper hearing protection. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The appeal regarding initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable (0 percent) prior to April 26, 2012. For the period on and after April 26, 2012, a compensable rating of 10 percent has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's statements and an opinion from audiologist D.N. support this determination.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during his military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.