Hearing loss decisions — 2016

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been manifested by complaints of difficulty understanding speech, especially with background noise. Throughout the rating period on appeal, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been clinically shown to be manifested by no worse than Level I hearing in both ears. The criteria for a compensable rating prior for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA audiograms and a hearing loss examination. The issues of his rating and the effective date of his rating must be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a sleep disorder has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus due to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his service, with the exception of the hearing loss which is not presumed due to noise exposure. The decision grants service connection for tinnitus but denies it for hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiology examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its impact on his employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and whether it is permanently aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, as his most recent VA examination found him to have normal hearing in both ears. The Board finds that service connection is not established.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis is being remanded due to the inextricability with his reasonably raised schedular claim. The Board will adjudicate both claims together.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new medical opinion regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus claims. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of TDIU and earlier effective dates are also being addressed.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it. The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hand disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, bilateral hip bursitis, skin disorder, right shoulder disorder, and alcoholic pancreatitis are all denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to verify stressor events, obtain private treatment records, and schedule VA examinations.