Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim remains pending as the VA examiner did not provide a sufficient rationale in their opinion.

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as mild lumbar spondylosis or spondylolisthesis, was not caused or aggravated by any aspect of service.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The case is REMANDED for this purpose.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the severity of his tinnitus and its impact on his ability to function. The case will also be reviewed to determine if referral for extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for his PO exploratory laparotomy scar and GSW of the right flank. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for Crohn's disease with ulcerative colitis is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of onset or continuity of symptoms during service, and the Board found that current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to noncompensable was proper due to clear and unmistakable error in an earlier decision. The Veteran is entitled to a compensable evaluation prior to July 18, 2006, but not after that date.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating under the schedular criteria, and thus denied his claim for an initial compensable disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for avascular necrosis of the bilateral hips and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. His claims for increased ratings for chronic conjunctivitis with dry eye syndrome and bilateral hearing loss are pending.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of new treatment records.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim for a shrapnel injury to the left ear is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the obtaining of medical records.