Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to April 11, 2015, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the conditions attributed to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of sufficient evidence in their favor.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss. The issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss is now pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records, including those from March 2010 and any relevant records stored in Vista Imaging. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion regarding whether his bilateral foot numbness is related to herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's lung cancer was diagnosed within one year prior to his claim and an effective date of December 19, 2014 is granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,An initial 20 percent rating for scars associated with sigmoid stricture with diverting colostomy and cecostomy tube placement prior to November 1, 2011 is granted. A rating in excess of 20 percent beginning on November 1, 2011 is denied.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been reopened, with both conditions being granted.,Both the bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been granted a 50% rating, the highest available under the schedular criteria.,The Board has found that there is equipoise of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's migraines are very frequent and prostrating enough to warrant a 50% rating. The claim for an initial compensable rating in excess of 10 percent for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease is remanded, as well as the service connection claim for right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current condition is not related to active service or any incident of service, including as due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss disability is granted. The initial compensable rating claim for the left fourth finger fracture is denied, and the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss disability is remanded. Service connection for headaches and bilateral knee disability are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they require additional evidence, including VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which resulted from exposure to military acoustic trauma, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation effective March 2, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and glaucoma as secondary to cancer treatment due to potential exposure to toxins and herbicides during service. The VA is instructed to investigate the Veteran's reports of alleged exposure and schedule him for appropriate examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The examiner is required to address all periods of service, including ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his bilateral hearing loss disability is denied because there was no expressed intent to apply for service connection between September 11, 2008 and February 23, 2015.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma during his active duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and bleeding/stomach ulcer due to insufficient evidence. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion.