Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left ankle disability. The appeal of these three issues is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back condition due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board found that VA's care or treatment was not negligent, and the Veteran's hearing loss and vertigo were reasonably foreseeable. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for these conditions cannot be granted as direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and bilateral ingrown toenails. The issues of nocturia and muscle spasms/twitching neck, upper, and lower extremities are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has found that the Veteran's back disorder is related to service, but there is no current evidence of a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and VA clinic records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, while his bilateral hearing loss may be related to service-connected posttraumatic headache disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

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

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma. Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been met.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a diagnosis within one year of separation from active service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as it was not addressed by the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities. The combined rating was found insufficient to meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to new evidence showing a direct relationship between his military service and current hearing loss.,Headaches are considered a symptom of maxillary sinusitis, so the Veteran cannot be granted separate service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the use of the Maryland CNC test in a private audiometry report.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, thus meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA audiology examination and further development of the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support earlier effective dates based on the statutory and regulatory requirements.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.