Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA audiological examination records and any outstanding VA treatment records from the Marion VA Medical Center. The case will be reviewed again after these actions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and needs further development before a final decision can be made on the service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be the result of in-service noise exposure, thus service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis, finding that the schedular rating adequately considered his symptoms and did not render it unjust.

The Board found no increase in the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss during service, and thus denied his claims for service connection. The Veteran's tinnitus was also not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion and verifying the Veteran's National Guard service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service connection claim for hearing loss and initial compensable rating for skin disorder of the arms were both found to be lacking sufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his active service. The remaining issues have been referred for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder. For bilateral hearing loss, the VA examiners have concluded that the current hearing disability is not related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions did not manifest until decades after his separation from service and are not related to service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination report, and a new opinion is required from the November 2013 VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will handle any further development as required.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating, as his audiometric test results correspond to Level I hearing loss in both ears.

The Veteran's appeals of the claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes, and the claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae have been dismissed. The appeal of the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is also dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, while the hernia claim is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examinations. The Board will seek an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, prior to the Board's decision.