Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hepatitis C, a right eye disability, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, or a cervical spine disability that is related to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including COPD, right shoulder and hand disabilities, and hypertension, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress, feed himself, prepare meals, or bathe without assistance.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable ratings for his service-connected left ear hearing loss and large posterior perforation of the left tympanic membrane was dismissed. The claim seeking a single 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities prior to December 19, 2013, was denied due to lack of clear interference with normal employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss and service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right toe disorder, a back disorder, a sleep disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include major depression due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for residuals of left fourth finger fracture is pending.

The Veteran's right acoustic schwannoma, right ear hearing loss, esophageal disorder, numbness of the hands, and numbness of the feet are all found to be related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 6, 2002 for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 19, 1994 for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted and the effective date is set at August 19, 1994.,The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss is denied as it does not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 40 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his bilateral tinnitus is denied as it already meets the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss are denied as the evidence does not show that his hearing impairment has ever met or exceeded the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have been incurred in service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to inconsistencies in previous audiological examinations and concerns about professionalism.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral flat feet. The case will be processed as though the request for a hearing had been withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The remaining claims have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since June 2011. The VA and private audiometric evaluations have consistently shown Level II or III hearing acuity in the right ear, and Level IV hearing acuity in the left ear, which do not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure proper development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional service treatment records and conducting medical examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as 70 percent disabling throughout the period under consideration. The evidence shows that his auditory acuity levels in both ears are at level VIII and IX, respectively, which corresponds to a 50% rating.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions may be related to his military service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are considered one disability as they affect a single body system. As likely as not, these conditions render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. This includes obtaining relevant treatment records, arranging for a VA or fee-basis audiologist to provide an opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities, and then deciding the case based on the newly obtained evidence.