Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication, including consideration of his claims for higher disability ratings on an extraschedular basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, as they pre-existed his entry into active duty. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO, and the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is still pending.

The Court has restored the Veteran's disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss from 20% to 90%, effective August 1, 2009.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left ear nerve damage can be decided. The Veteran's current hearing loss may not have been caused by in-service noise exposure, and updated VA treatment records and private medical records are requested.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as it is presumed to be related to his in-service acoustic trauma.,Service connection for anxiety disorder is granted based on a finding of continuity of symptomatology and the Veteran's reported fear of hostile military activity during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service, but his tinnitus was not attributable to service and did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and other service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be considered.

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

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and requires further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and review of the evidence, including audiometric testing conversion and expert opinion on etiology.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and pulmonary problems. The Veteran's hypertension is found to be related to his service-connected anxiety disorder, while he does not have diagnosed conditions of bilateral hearing loss or pulmonary problems.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30 percent effective from January 29, 2010. The appeal for service connection of vertigo as secondary to his hearing loss and tinnitus is pending.

The Veteran's right foot disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to service. The Board finds no current disability for the right foot condition.,Service connection is denied as there is no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a DRO hearing and readjudication of the claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not have chronic symptoms of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss during service and has not had continuous symptoms since service. The current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus, type II. For bilateral hearing loss, the claim was denied as there was no evidence of worsening during service. For diabetes mellitus, type II, the Veteran withdrew his appeal at the November 2014 Board hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to service, while his bowel disorder is not otherwise etiologically linked to service.