Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no left ear hearing loss disability and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher schedular and extraschedular rating for tinnitus, as well as the issue of TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran did not serve in a unit determined to have operated in the Korean DMZ between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971. The evidence failed to show herbicide exposure during service.

The appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) after additional evidence was submitted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted with a noncompensable rating effective May 26, 2009. The RO also granted an earlier effective date of May 26, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected disability for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The evidence shows no in-service hearing loss, and current audiometric testing is within normal limits.

The Veteran's claim of increased ratings for migraine headaches has been granted. His claims for service connection for Crohn's disease, a back disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, dry eye syndrome with myopic astigmatism, and hearing loss are all denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including a new VA examination for his service-connected IVDS and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The appeal will be REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on tinnitus, hearing loss, and coronary artery disease was withdrawn. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD with dysthymic disorder effective from May 6, 2011, the date of his claim. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his active military service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for an increased evaluation for tinnitus was denied as there are no factors warranting extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right leg condition. The TDIU claim will also be deferred until the remanded issues are resolved.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also finds that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for this condition as it was incurred in active service.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder) and denied the remaining issues. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims regarding entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for further development, including new examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes. The claims of service connection for cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities are denied as there is no evidence to support the presence of these conditions during or after active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board also found that there was at least a 50% likelihood that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis are related to his military service, but did not make a determination on whether these conditions were aggravated by service.