Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his active duty service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional development.

The Veteran's service connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining gainful employment for which he would otherwise be qualified.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and nasal septum resection are being remanded due to the need for new examinations and additional VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure. The hearing loss claim remains pending as it requires a more contemporaneous VA examination.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his service connection claims, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or within one year of separation. However, the Veteran reported a continuity of symptoms since service, which is sufficient to establish a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for tinnitus and has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim is now reopened, and the criteria for service connection have been met due to the Veteran's credible testimony indicating in-service exposure to artillery fire which likely initiated or aggravated his tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiology examination to assess the severity of his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure and service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional service records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and back conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent from June 1, 2009. The Board denied the claim for a higher rating as his hearing acuity did not warrant an increase in disability compensation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disability, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains denied as no new and material evidence was presented.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right-ear hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for large vessel disease, claimed as coronary artery disease, has been reopened. The RO granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD from November 22, 2010 and denied all other claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled hearings and will need to schedule a new hearing.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral hearing loss disorder was denied as there is no evidence of hearing impairment during or within one year after service, and the VA examiner opined that any current hearing loss is not related to service.