Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining a VA audiometric evaluation and relevant outpatient records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and found that new evidence supports a finding of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as it is at least in equipoise whether his current condition is related to military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations, and thus denied his claim for an initial compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including his December 2013 statement recanting previous statements about noise exposure and tinnitus onset. The claims will be reconsidered with this new information.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted effective March 4, 2009. The rating of 10% has been maintained until February 11, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule, thus denying his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure during combat service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased rating for left ear hearing loss is also addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing for the issues from his second substantive appeal, including those from 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss of the right ear has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no evidence showing a need for a higher rating based on the current medical findings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding new and material evidence. However, it denied both claims on their merits.,Service connection was not established for a back disability in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling an updated audiological examination and issuing a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) addressing his disagreement with initial ratings assigned to his bilateral knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated treatment records and determine the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the readjudication of the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim on appeal will be REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not attributable to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.