Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for hearing loss, left ear and sleep apnea. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (specifically major depressive disorder) is granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 30 percent prior to October 21, 2014, and increased to 50 percent from that date. The current rating is the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, various diagnosed psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine osteoarthritis, right thigh compressive neuropathy, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted as the evidence shows that his current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA audiological examination relied on incorrect conversion of audiometric findings, and thus remands for an addendum to provide a proper analysis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to secure additional medical opinions and service department records. The claims of service connection for various disabilities are inextricably intertwined and must be considered concurrently.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss in his right ear as defined for VA purposes and that his left ear hearing loss is not related to service. The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be a symptom of his non-service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing at the Oakland RO. The severance of service connection and pension entitlement are still pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his pending appeals, including those for the issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, entitlement to a compensable evaluation for callus of the left heel status post cautery, entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder, entitlement to service connection for a right leg disorder, and entitlement to service connection for a radial nerve injury. As such, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of outstanding medical records. The Board will review his claims based on this new evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as they are at least in equipoise that his tinnitus is related to active duty service, while his hearing loss claim is not supported by evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's GERD was granted a higher initial rating.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and right hand disorder were all granted. However, service connection for right ear hearing loss was not established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date of October 22, 2009 for the assignment of a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.