Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, migraines as secondary to tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to tinnitus due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the appeal for an increased rating has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence of record is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s tinnitus had its onset during his active service, and thus grants the claim. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains remanded due to insufficient rationale provided by the April 2013 VA examiner.

The Veteran's hearing loss claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, while the hearing loss is not.

The reduction in the rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss from 50 percent to 0 percent, effective April 1, 2012, was proper.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if any of the service-connected disabilities are related to military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected. The left knee strain with tenosynovitis is denied due to lack of a compensable rating.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's hearing loss evaluation from 10% to noncompensable was not proper and restored the original 10% rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the remote date of the last VA examination and the Veteran's assertion that his hearing loss is worse than reflected by the July 2012 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete VA treatment records and a need for further examination. The issues of service connection for COPD and kidney disability are not within jurisdiction as they have not been perfected by the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened, and a more current VA examination is needed to assess the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had manifested tinnitus since leaving the Republic of Vietnam, and resolved any doubt in his favor to grant service connection.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a back disorder was denied as no new and material evidence had been received showing a relationship to military service.,His application to reopen his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, but the underlying issue remains remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for service-connected tinnitus was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, requesting information about employment history, scheduling an examination for bilateral hearing loss, and scheduling a VA examination for the low back disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 100% from April 30, 2015. The Board also granted TDIU prior to April 30, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The low back and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus.

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