Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and effective date claims related to TBI residuals, headache disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, PTSD with depressive disorder, and left eyebrow scar residuals. The issues of increased ratings for coronary artery disease and PTSD with depressive disorder; and entitlement to total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to earlier effective date for tinnitus based on CUE is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the unavailability of service treatment records and the need for further verification of in-service stressors related to PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during his active service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for TDIU due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The case is remanded for a VA examination and to obtain VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied as the audiometric testing did not show that he is entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted, and he is also granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of hearing loss and tinnitus for further evaluation due to noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for other-specified trauma/stressor related disorder and secondary alcohol use disorder, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service. Bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a scar on the left cheek bone was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA medical records and an examination.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for service connection and rating evaluations. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims of bilateral hearing loss, gastric cancer, arrhythmia, high cholesterol, liver cancer, chloracne, and a psychiatric disorder (depression) are being addressed again.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and remands for an addendum opinion. The Veteran also obtained a favorable private opinion, but it lacks rationale.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied, and his claim for service connection for sinusitis is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of current disabilities. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination.,Service connection is denied for tinnitus as there is no competent evidence of a current disability. Service connection is also denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of hearing loss within one year after service and it is less likely related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination and opinion. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to the need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, shell fragment wound to left muscle group III, hearing loss, and TBI, rendered him unemployable as of May 26, 2011. His effective date for a total disability based upon individual unemployability is set at this date.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a causal link to active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 80 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while his SNHL is not considered to have been incurred during service.