Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and examining the Veteran's claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disabilities, left and right foot disabilities, and left and right ankle disabilities have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The VA examinations did not find any current diagnoses of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a hearing via live videoconference. The case will be returned to the AOJ for scheduling an appropriate hearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability. The claim for left hip disability is granted as new and material evidence was received.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder with depression, was incurred during his active duty service. The claim is granted.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not have onset in service, was not otherwise caused by or related to his active service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not have its onset during military service and is not otherwise related to such service. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied his claim for an initial compensable evaluation for left third finger residuals with minor bony defect, status post neuroma excision. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disorder is addressed in the Remand portion of the decision.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities and his active service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not shown to be related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted as both conditions are found to be related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and dysthymia). The decision on the latter two issues is pending.

The Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided that the appeal is remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

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