Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective from March 26, 2009. The appeal regarding the reduction of the rating to noncompensable is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for low back degenerative disc disease as aggravated by a service-connected disability and service connection for right ear hearing loss. The issue of an initial rating higher than 40 percent for traumatic brain injury residuals is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance of another person, nor does he require assistance in attending to the ordinary hazards of daily living. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to grant special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during active duty service, and the Board finds that it meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus, type II are related to service. The claims for speech impairment, sinus disability, gastrointestinal disability, and psychiatric disability have been denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability or nexus to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding his hearing acuity during service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral SNHL but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination and adjudicate his claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right foot disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea secondary to service-connected tinnitus are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are etiologically related to in-service exposure to acoustic trauma, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found no evidence of a current right ear hearing loss disability or tinnitus within one year of separation from service, and there is insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish service connection. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was noted at enlistment but not aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a cervical spine disability, and an eye disorder. The other issues have been remanded due to incomplete development.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination to assess the severity of his left ear hearing loss disability, and to determine whether the increase in his service-connected left ear hearing loss is related to military noise exposure or an intervening cause.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records, as well as providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus disability, and bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of his case.