Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to noise exposure during active duty. The case is returned for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional pertinent evidence, specifically the results of an audiometric evaluation conducted in September 2012.

The Board has found that further development is necessary to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ear retracted tympanic membrane, hernia repair, right knee disability, and low back disability are all remanded for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and left knee disability as the evidence did not establish a nexus between current disabilities and service.,There is no credible finding of arthritis in either knee within a year after separation from service, thus there is no basis to presume service connection for arthritis.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not attributable to service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizophrenia, and chronic pain syndrome, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. Headache disorder and memory loss disorder are also not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service and are related to his military noise exposure. Service connection was also granted for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease (secondary to right knee), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied an increased rating for sensorineural bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not show improvement warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 19, 2013 and a 20 percent rating thereafter are denied. The Veteran's right knee strain is rated at 10 percent since May 10, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran had current bilateral hearing loss, credible in-service noise exposure, and a link between his service and current disability. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service.

The Board has granted a TDIU, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, and dismissed the issue of SMC at the housebound rate. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for various conditions related to presumed herbicide exposure during service is remanded due to insufficient evidence or further clarification of the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder disorder, myopic astigmatism, an eye disability to include an eye infection, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus due to insufficient evidence regarding the dates of service-connected duty status and the specific incidents that may have caused these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist condition, right wrist condition, bilateral hearing loss, and testicular disability as there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, initial rating for anxiety disorder, and TDIU due to service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to these conditions. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA audiology examination.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385. The claims for initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss, orchialgia, PTSD, and TDIU are remanded.