Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed as VA records are requested to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty for training with Army Reserve and Army National Guard units. The Veteran will also undergo a VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, but he does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The case is being remanded for consideration of extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination regarding his back disability, as well as claims related to sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, anxiety, tinnitus, and a higher rating for migraine headaches. A statement of the case must be issued for these issues.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the period from August 19, 2009 to April 4, 2013 due to his service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma. The rating for PTSD remains at 50 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has worsened, and a more current VA examination is needed to determine the appropriate rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, as there is at least equipoise evidence supporting this conclusion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and internal inconsistencies in the December 2012 VA audiological examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered with an updated VA audiological examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and remanded the remaining issues on appeal, including service connection for meningitis, chronic sinusitis, encephalopathy, skin cancer, Parkinson's disease, headaches, lumbar spine DDD, vision disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, neck stiffness, disability manifested by spitting blood, acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, and gait ataxia. The Board also remanded for additional development regarding outstanding records from the James Haley VAMC and Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was granted a 10% rating, but his claim for increased ratings is denied. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection of degenerative arthrosis of the left knee and periodontal disease with loss of teeth.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show a nexus between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure, and there was no showing of continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The case is remanded due to the need for clarification of a private audiogram and because it has been nearly three years since the Veteran's last VA examination. The Veteran should be afforded a VA audiological examination.

The Board has reopened six previously denied claims of service connection and remanded them for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine if her current conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, but has granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria or any link to military service.

The Veteran's TDIU and Chapter 35 educational benefits were granted for the period from March 24, 2011 to July 19, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied. However, the Board finds in favor of the Veteran on his claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to loud noise during service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show that it was incurred in or caused by service, including exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, granting service connection for his tinnitus. For bilateral hearing loss, the case is remanded as there are conflicting opinions and a need for further examination.