Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The disability rating for PTSD has not yet been addressed, as the issue is inextricably intertwined with other issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled Board videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including in-service acoustic trauma. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine condition, and right shoulder condition. The VA examiners are asked to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service noise exposure and motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year of his military service. The current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for a chronic disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor is there evidence to support a presumption of service connection.

Your appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. Your claims for service connection are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 10% prior to February 20, 2014, and 40% thereafter. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity were each rated as 10%. His PTSD was rated as 30%, and his left leg scar was not assigned a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is not warranted. The issue of service connection for immersion foot remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for TBI and a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further development as the VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's testimony regarding his noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically considering his service treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while the peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is not. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes related to bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for MDD as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The claim was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the MDD to any other disability, including service-connected ones.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his service, and the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is addressed in a separate REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and headaches. The Veteran's claims are supported by competent lay evidence of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 28, 2014. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date.