Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, shell fragment wounds, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and hearing loss, are being reviewed to determine if they render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a head injury was denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) are being remanded. The initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the tinnitus reopening claim remains denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, including noise exposure during service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely as not caused by or a result of military noise exposure history.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the local RO in Huntington, West Virginia. The issues of service connection and disability ratings are pending.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a request for a Board hearing via videoconference. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and bilateral tinnitus remain pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right ear hearing loss have been granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted it, but denied a compensable initial disability rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a right foot injury has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and asthma are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to noise exposure during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The initial rating for his degenerative arthritis, bilateral knees, status post meniscus repair with scars remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his left shoulder scar has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA records and schedule the Veteran for an audiological examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction combine to a 70 percent rating. The Board finds that these conditions render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service, including noise exposure. Additional development is needed.