Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board finds that the issues pertaining to a low back condition and bilateral hearing loss disability must be remanded for further development primarily for the purposes of obtaining a new examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for chronic ear infections and sinusitis. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service acoustic trauma due to combat exposure.

The Veteran's minimal small vessel periventricular ischemic white matter disease, chronic headache disorder, hypertension, tinnitus of the right ear, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder, fungus of the feet, facial cyst, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right arm disorder were not incurred in service or related to service.,The Veteran's periods of active service did not include a qualifying period for VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current hearing disability, which he claims is related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral retinitis pigmentosa was incurred during her military service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.,The VA examiner opined that it is 'probably at least as likely as not' that the Veteran's bilateral retinitis pigmentosa developed during her period of active duty.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is found to be the result of noise exposure during his military service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted based on the presumption of service connection due to exposure to loud noise during active duty.

The Veteran's initial claim for a right ear hearing loss disability was granted, and he is now receiving a noncompensable rating. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability has been resolved in his favor with the effective date set at April 27, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and knee conditions is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a current bilateral hearing loss disability and knee condition that are related to his military service.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found that the Veteran's RLS is not related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected depression was granted. His increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were also granted, effective May 22, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 40 percent from May 7, 2010 to September 20, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to inconsistent test results and the need to obtain updated medical records.

The Veteran met the minimum criteria for schedular TDIU and was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for fracture of the right distal ulna was also denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.