Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss, right eye disability, pes planus, hyper keratosis, chronic lichen simplex, and TDIU claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying a private audiogram.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle strain is service-connected, as it likely resulted from injuries sustained during his active duty in Iraq. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current bilateral hearing loss and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as he did not meet the criteria for a current disability to be recognized under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employability and potential effects of his medications on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise, and thus grants service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 24, 2012, to June 30, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable rating prior to December 3, 2015 and since then has been rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an additional VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied for the entire period of appeal as his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely due to noise exposure during service and has been recurrent since then. Service connection for tinnitus was granted. The back condition (scoliosis) remains unresolved as an addendum opinion is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have originated during active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The claim for recurrent 'blood poisoning' residuals remains pending as no VA examination has been conducted.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 31, 2010 is being remanded as the threshold schedular criteria are not met. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The evidence did not support these claims.