Hearing loss decisions — 2015

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

The Board denied service connection for generalized arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the right arm, and an eye disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current level of disability does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as they did not manifest within one year of separation from service and are unrelated to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for Graves' disease is being addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, along with other service-connected conditions, has not presented an exceptional or unusual disability picture that would render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards. Therefore, referral for extraschedular consideration is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection and a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is March 31, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing at his local VA RO.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have residuals from a TBI and denied service connection for TBI residuals. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for tinnitus, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, GERD, right knee and left leg disabilities, and bilateral hearing loss are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left ankle, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss disabilities. The decision found that new evidence was not received to reopen the claim for a left ankle injury, and that pre-existing right and left ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in this case, including obtaining updated VA medical records and service personnel records. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, nerve damage of the lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and right knee disability are being remanded pending completion of these tasks.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as it is related to active duty, while the claim for tinnitus is also granted due to its onset during active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were evaluated, but the claims for increased ratings were denied as there was no evidence of exceptional disability that would warrant an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new opinion regarding service connection for the right ankle disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also part of this appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination due to the Veteran's failure to appear at a previously scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is etiologically related to his active duty service and granting the benefit of doubt.