Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service noise exposure during combat.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease, hypertension, partial colon removal, kidney disorders, tremor disorder, and neurological disorder of the feet.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left ankle disorder, lower back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and Hepatitis C as they are all related to a deceased veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's initial claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but he is seeking a higher rating and TDIU. The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and SMC based on aid and attendance was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support total social impairment due to PTSD, but rather a finding of occupational impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo (dizziness) has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, as the audiometric results do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his previously disallowed claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that no new and material evidence had been received since the June 2012 decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, vision disability, and increased rating for right ear hearing loss have all been denied.,There is no current evidence of a hearing or vision disability in the record.

The Veteran's hyperthyroidism is granted as service-connected due to exposure to low iodine in the drinking water during his Vietnam service.,Service connection for PTSD is granted based on combat experience and reported stressors. Depression secondary to coronary artery disease and PTSD is also granted.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.,Ischemic heart disease due to thyroid disability is presumed service-connected, but the Veteran's heart disability was not diagnosed by medical professionals during his lifetime. Secondary service connection for depression is granted.

The Board has determined that a referral to the Director of Compensation Service is required for an extraschedular TDIU evaluation prior to March 1, 2016 due to plausible evidence indicating the Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial hearing loss ratings for both ears are denied, and his claim for service connection of PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed stressors.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions, and the reopening of claims for right knee disorder and left knee disorder. The Veteran's claims are now pending again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, neck condition, and right hip condition is denied.,Service connection for depressive disorder is dismissed due to a grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected heart condition and other disabilities have affected his ability to work, leading him to retire early in 2006. The Board finds that the Veteran may be unemployable due to his service-connected heart condition prior to January 2008.