Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiology examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability. The TDIU claim is also part of this appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, residuals of a stroke, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder, and left knee disorder are all service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical examination to address service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran contends that his current hearing loss is due to combat noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, which was first noted in service and has continued since then, is found to be related to exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty. As such, the claim for accrued benefits purposes is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss disability is adequately described by the current schedular rating criteria and thus, an extraschedular evaluation was not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been withdrawn. The claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss are being remanded.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's hearing impairment is not worse than level III in either ear, which corresponds to a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to noise exposure during active military service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and an opinion on the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants an initial disability rating of 50 percent, effective July 31, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his complete service personnel records and VA treatment records. Additional medical opinions are also needed regarding the diagnoses of psychiatric disorders, vasovagal syncope, seborrheic keratosis and actinic keratosis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, while his lumbar spine osteoarthritis with degenerative disc disease has been rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The appeal regarding the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a request for a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not service-connected as it does not appear to be related to his in-service noise exposure.,His cervical spine disability and left knee condition are not service-connected, with the most likely explanation being that they developed due to natural aging processes rather than service.