Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding the origin of his hearing loss and whether it is related to in-service noise exposure or an injury during Ranger School.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that his current condition is related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran has current bilateral hearing loss in his left ear, but not in his right ear. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hearing loss in either ear.,There is no evidence showing tinnitus was present within one year after separation from active duty service. The VA examiner found it unlikely that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA audiological examination and gathering relevant medical records.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence did not meet the threshold to reopen his claim for tinnitus. For hearing loss, the Board concluded there was no in-service or post-service evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's application for TDIU was received on May 4, 2010. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to December 30, 2013 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, which render him unemployable. With reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the appellant, the criteria for entitlement to a TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or permanent auditory damage. The VA examiners found no connection between the current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining audiometric test results from a previous VA audiology consult and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable, and the Board found that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the January 2012 VA examination results.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, lumbar surgery, stomach condition, GERD, migraines, memory loss, and erectile dysfunction. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records, National Guard records, VA treatment records, and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because their death during the pendency of the appeal means the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was rated as 10 percent disabling since February 13, 2017. The Veteran previously had noncompensable ratings for his bilateral hearing loss from May 29, 2012 to February 12, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, gastrointestinal disease, skin disorder, heart condition secondary to PTSD, peripheral vestibular disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The Veteran's left ear frostbite is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to his request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining audiogram results and specific puretone threshold values.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine if his right ear hearing loss is related to service. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for left ear hearing loss will be deferred until the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right ear hearing loss is adjudicated.