Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to address the medical matters raised by the appellant's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's vertigo is etiologically related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus granting service connection for vertigo.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not compensable, as it does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than Level IX under VA regulations.

The Veteran is found unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The combined rating of these conditions meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from the July 2015 VA examiner regarding the extent of functional impairment due to his service-connected right and left upper and lower extremity neuritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability. The issue is still pending as service connection may be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, with the onset of symptoms during service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 16, 2016 has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and a compensable rating for otitis media, finding no current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and resolves reasonable doubt in favor of service connection.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or incident that resulted in the Veteran's current right knee disability, and thus denied service connection for this condition.,For his left knee disability, the Board determined there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the condition and service. The Veteran's left knee disability is not considered related to any incident during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the AOJ found that Attorney R.B.G. was entitled to attorney fees in the amount of $18,523 for services provided during his representation from June 2010 to February 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, make him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) are met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners to address the nature and etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and lung disability claims. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and for obtaining relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not related to his military noise exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the effective date for recognizing his wife as dependent was set at February 10, 2015. The Board found that an earlier effective date could not be granted.

The Veteran's claims for anal or rectal disability, bilateral hearing loss, and right ankle disability have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and GERD have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.,Service connection has not been established for the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.