Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss renders him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and to provide a supplemental medical opinion regarding whether tinnitus aggravated hearing loss in the left ear. The Veteran's claims of severance of service connection for hammertoes and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is adequately addressed by the current schedular rating criteria and there are no additional symptoms not covered by these criteria. The Veteran's disability picture does not meet the requirements for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to further development being needed, including verifying service dates and affording the Veteran VA examination(s). The appeal is now pending again.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss, as well as TDIU prior to May 26, 2009, was denied. The Board found that the current schedular rating criteria adequately considered his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his tinnitus is not related to service. Therefore, both claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video hearing. Service connection claims for right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss disorder, and tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent prior to October 23, 2015 and increased to 40 percent as of that date. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an audiological evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The current evidence is inadequate, and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 1, 2015.

The Board found no evidence of diagnosed bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus denied service connection for these conditions. The Veteran's inaction regarding a claim for his bilateral hearing loss is considered.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, right hip condition, and low back condition due to new evidence. The Veteran's alcohol abuse claim is denied as it is not a secondary result of an organic disease or disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but there is no current evidence of a bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA audiological examination and consideration of a medical treatise.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it has not been adjudicated yet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.