Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed by the November 2009 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for hearing loss in the left ear was not warranted, and therefore restored the original service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could make a decision.

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

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, hygroma (claimed as fluid on the brain), deviated septum, sleep apnea, PTSD and dysthymic disorder has been withdrawn.

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. The appeal will be remanded to allow for further development of the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his alleged radiation exposure and obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA audiological evaluation to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, specifically noise exposure. The examiner must consider and discuss the previous opinion that his current hearing loss configuration is not consistent with in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his military service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a suitably qualified examiner to discuss the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing condition and opine whether it is related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral elbow disability, diagnosed as lateral epicondylitis, is not etiologically related to service. The examiner noted no complaints of elbow problems during active duty and attributed the current condition to overuse in a civilian job.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's hearing loss and military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board, as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not warranted a compensable rating for the entire period on appeal. The claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected left foot plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis of the left hip with thigh impairment and pain, and degenerative arthritis of the left hip with limitation of flexion have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his sinusitis, bronchitis, and low back disabilities. The hearing loss claim is also being remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and concluded that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to address his claims of service connection and rating for various disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, including type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to service, as there was no evidence of a significant threshold shift during service and his hearing was normal upon discharge.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss. For his PTSD, the Board finds that additional development is needed as there was no recent VA examination to evaluate the severity of his disability.