Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss of the right ear, a back disability, a right foot disability, or a left foot disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or housebound status due to his other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The TDIU claim will also be remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination at a more convenient location. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion to address the current functional effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board finds that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service in the Air National Guard, specifically noise exposure during flight line work. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of complaints or treatment for these conditions during service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that either condition was incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding Reserve service records and a need for a VA audiological examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue and will be reconsidered by the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's VA medical records and to provide him with a VA examination for his hearing loss, low back disability, bilateral foot disabilities, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity. The examiner will be asked to determine if these conditions are related to service, including presumed Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a compression fracture of the back and headaches, but dismissed the appeals regarding bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder dislocation due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a compensable rating for dermatitis of the bilateral hands. The other issues were either not addressed or denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with appropriate examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran is seeking an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, which has been rated as noncompensable from August 24, 2011. The Board finds that a new examination is needed to fully and fairly evaluate the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating from July 27, 2011, to February 1, 2012; in excess of 30 percent from February 2, 2012, to September 13, 2012, or in excess of 10 percent from September 14, 2012, to May 10, 2015. A compensable rating was assigned effective May 11, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed left ear hearing loss was not present during active service, did not manifest within one year of discharge from service, and did not develop as a result of any incident during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.