Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 50 percent, and he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. It has also established that his tinnitus is related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of discussion regarding in-service noise exposure and the cause of current hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA medical examination. The purpose of this development is to provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases regarding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of the submitted evidence.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including service connection for various disorders. The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have not been shown to be related to service, with the exception of possible noise exposure during service. The Board finds that the evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is etiologically related to his active service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not currently have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiology examination and an opinion regarding the etiology of his left ear disorder. The claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a left ear condition will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as VA treatment records. The issues of service connection for these conditions will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in active service and the Board finds that it is related to his military noise exposure. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, while conceded as being due to in-service acoustic trauma, does not have a direct link to service based on the evidence provided.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is due to exposure to acoustic trauma during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination and the obtaining of any outstanding medical records. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been manifested by no worse than level I hearing impairment in either ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records, including those from Tampa Bay E.N.T. and any audiology examinations provided by the Veteran's employer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, post traumatic osteoarthritis of the right shoulder with loss of range of motion, tinnitus, and bilateral high frequency hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.