Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to April 5, 2013 for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied.,Service connection was not granted for a bilateral hip disorder or skin disorder (including jungle rot of the ears).,There is no evidence of current disabilities related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA addendum opinion addressing whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by medications prescribed for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the knees.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied due to his own willful misconduct in the motor vehicle accident of April [redacted], 1975. The Board found that none of the conditions claimed were related to active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 50 percent since June 23, 2010. The Board finds that the current rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including issuance of Statements of the Case and scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues include rating an increased disability for bilateral pes planus, service connection for various disabilities, and review of a reduction in rating for plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, with a rating of 10% each effective July 13, 2009. The maximum schedular rating under the applicable criteria has been assigned.

The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of whether the disability has markedly interfered with his employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is attributable to service, specifically noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to his active military service and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss for VA purposes during the appeal period, and therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his psychiatric conditions, lumbar spine condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as a result of service-connected disabilities (TDIU) will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim remains in denial.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA audiological examination and considering the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not currently suffer from hearing loss in either ear, as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,After a thorough review of the evidence, including the Veteran's STRs and post-service medical records, the examiner diagnosed sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. However, the objective audiometric results do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including securing VA treatment records and scheduling a vocational evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a BVA hearing. The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various conditions and whether new evidence supports reopening of his left wrist condition claim.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a ruptured eardrum and increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss. Specifically, a VA examination is required to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability and provide an etiological opinion as to any claimed residuals of a ruptured eardrum.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to a scheduling issue for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.