Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to noise exposure during active service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss and bilateral eye condition are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and right upper extremity radiculopathy were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 2, 2015, for the payment of dependency allowance for his spouse was denied because he did not meet the requirement of having a combined disability rating of 30 percent or greater at that time. The issue of entitlement to a concurrent retirement and VA disability payment in an amount greater than $3,211.39 is remanded due to lack of proper notice.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate June 2010 VA examination, and additional development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, as evidenced by noise exposure during basic training and combat in Korea. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to May 8, 2014 and an increased rating greater than 10 percent from May 8, 2014.

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

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete medical records, particularly those from 2009-2011. A VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and developing a claim for TDIU. The Veteran's hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a kidney condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, tendonitis of the right thumb, and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's eye disorder and hernia disorder are being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his failure to report for a scheduled hearing and the Board considering it dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and additional information regarding his employment status. The TDIU component of the claim must also be developed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during military service, are not related to service, and have no connection with his military service. As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma during his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.