Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss, as the last examination was over four years ago.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and resulting hearing difficulty are related to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and employment information to assess the impact of the appellant's bilateral hearing loss on his daily activities, including employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in a final rating decision issued in September 2001. The RO reopened the claims based on new evidence received in March 2010, and awarded service connection effective from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for loss or atrophy of the left testicle is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current condition was incurred during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all relevant VA treatment records have been considered.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied the remaining claims including residuals of a pilonidal cyst disability, esophageal cancer, COPD, and prostate disability.

The Veteran's hearing loss was not shown to have had its onset in service or within one year of separation, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service and has not been shown to be otherwise related to service. The VA examiner determined that his current hearing loss is less likely than not a result of noise exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as clarifying the B-reader's interpretation of the appellant's respiratory studies.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his education and occupational experience, have at least as likely as not made him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that TDIU is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected, as it was incurred during her active military service.

The Veteran's current gastrointestinal disability developed many years after service and is not related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss. The case is now REMANDED for compliance with the January 2014 remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and a need for additional examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His right ankle strains, left ankle strains, and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome are currently rated at 10 percent each. Tinnitus is presumed to be related to service, but bilateral hearing loss has not been diagnosed or shown.