Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is asked to provide clarification on when his tinnitus began, and a supplemental VA examination will be conducted by an audiologist who must consider all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal of the erectile dysfunction issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), a seizure disorder, and migraine headaches. The effective date of any future grant of service connection would be determined based on when the application was filed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and therefore grants a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus denied his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a clarifying medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and the effective date of this decision is December 1, 2008.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's in-service head injury and its potential impact on his current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has not resulted in a compensable evaluation during the appeal period, as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment. The noncompensable rating assigned under Diagnostic Code 6100 adequately reflects the Veteran's functional limitations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cold injuries to his extremities and hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion are inadequate to determine the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is therefore REMANDED for a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to his active duty service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The claims are denied.

The Board has remanded all claims due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, considered as one disability, meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to September 15, 2014.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service and granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, prostate disability (to include BPH), and bilateral foot disability are all denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or that any such disabilities were incurred in service.,The Veteran was not found to have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The Veteran's claim for prostate disability (to include BPH) is also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the examiner opined it is less likely than not related to service or the in-service vasectomy. For bilateral foot disability, the Veteran was found to have pes planus and hallux rigidus but the examiner did not provide an opinion on their etiology.