Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has received a withdrawal of the appeal from the appellant, and therefore, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability did not begin in service and is not related to his military noise exposure. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is characterized as productive of no worse than Level V hearing acuity in the right ear, and level III hearing acuity in the left ear for the entire appeal period. The criteria for a 10 percent rating are met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a rating of 20 percent since January 23, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VAOPT records and a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The claim for TDIU will be adjudicated in the first instance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those related to herbicide exposure, are denied as the evidence does not support a finding of current disability or a link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss, and for readjudication of both issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied as the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his exposure to loud noise during service, and thus grants the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating prior to July 20, 2017 and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board. The Veteran's hearing loss disability is rated at 10 percent since July 20, 2017.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder, sinus disorder (including sinusitis), heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, eye disorder, skin disorder of the feet, upper extremities disorder (manifested by swelling, pain in joints, cramping, and tightness), bilateral or unilateral wrist disorder, disorder of bilateral or unilateral hands and fingers, and hearing loss are all granted as they were incurred in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and review of additional evidence, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his military service, granting his claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was incurred in service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and the Board finds that competent, credible, and probative evidence establishes that tinnitus is etiologically related to the Veteran's active service. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of an ear infection, and a bilateral eye disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and right ear hearing loss were not caused by his in-service injury, disease, or event. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right ear hearing loss claims are inextricably intertwined, necessitating remand for further development. The case will be returned to the Board after appropriate development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate audiometric testing. The VA needs to schedule the Veteran for a new examination and obtain all pertinent records, including from the Guam VA CBOC.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.