Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being required, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and arranging for a new VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are expected to be considered in determining his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus disabilities, and the Veteran's lay statements were not credible. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,There is no competent medical evidence linking any current tinnitus to service. The Veteran's self-reported history of persistent tinnitus since service was not supported by post-service treatment records. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability in November 2006, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss was not related to his military service. The claim is being reopened based on new evidence submitted since then.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and PTSD are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling of a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and secondary service connection for tinnitus, as both conditions are found to be related to his military noise exposure.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches, skin disorder other than urticaria (claimed as dry scalp, skin rash with swelling and chicken skin), and right ear hearing loss were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as a VA examination for her claimed ear disabilities and psychiatric conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his in-service combat exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to noise from turbo-jet aircraft engines. As such, these conditions have been granted as being incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 14, 2007 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that no formal or informal claim prior to this date supported his claim. His bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further examination and development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disorder are all found to be related to service. The Veteran's PTSD and vertigo claims were not discussed at the hearing.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus claim should be remanded for further development, but is unable to make a decision on his bilateral hearing loss disability claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for alopecia, bilateral foot dermatitis, a stomach disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are now reconsidered on their merits.