Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a higher initial evaluation, as his current disability level is adequately reflected by the assigned 10% rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to address the claims for bilateral hearing loss and a left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating were denied. The Board found that the Veteran had not appealed the initial grant of service connection, but his claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted in November 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not worsened since the initial grant of service connection, resulting in a noncompensable (zero percent) disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled VA examination. The case will be returned for further development and potential readjudication.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 22, 2005 was granted at a 40 percent level based on the audiometric test results.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including interpretation of a private audiogram and clarification on speech testing methods.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the service-connected tinnitus. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and vertigo are remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection of hearing loss and an increased evaluation for PTSD, thus the Board dismisses these claims.

The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as early as August 21, 2007.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been established. The Veteran's tinnitus is also service connected.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including in-service noise exposure. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is likely due to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The claim for squamous cell carcinoma remains pending as there was insufficient evidence provided by VA to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not supported by evidence of record. The Board finds that the Veteran's current colon cancer is secondary to his service-connected multiple myeloma.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the additional evidence submitted since the July 2010 rating decision is cumulative and redundant.