Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and whether any low back disability with lower extremity radiculopathy was incurred in service or related to any incident of service. The examiner must also determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction are secondary to his low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder and back disabilities, as well as for obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection was also reopened for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since June 2010. The most recent VA audiological examination in September 2015 showed auditory acuity levels of Level III in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, which meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating.

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's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, thus granting service connection for this condition. Similarly, the Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining relevant records. The issues of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and a left foot disability are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU based on his combined disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and STRs from various military bases overseas. The Veteran's claim of service connection for Meniere's disease will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has determined that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and thus resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran. The Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his subsequent request for an increased rating to more than 10 percent since September 8, 2017, was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's inner ear disability, diagnosed as sensorineural hearing loss, was not incurred in service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and ischemic heart disease were not found to be service-connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, respiratory disorder (COPD), hypertension, heart disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right eye disability, right leg disability, and bilateral foot disability. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions and/or insufficient evidence to establish a link between them and service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, skin cancer, and PVD. The claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred during active service and is not etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred and is causally related to his active service, resulting in a grant of service connection for tinnitus. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the back disability. Service connection was also granted for hearing loss, but not for the leg disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.