Hearing loss Board decisions

The case is being remanded for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and provide supplemental opinions regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, specifically his exposure to noise during active duty. The claim for tinnitus is granted as it meets the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since August 25, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA audiological examination and review of the Veteran's VA treatment records since December 2015. The Veteran is seeking an increased disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since November 16, 2009. The VA and private audiometric tests have shown unreliable results due to the Veteran's non-organic hearing impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination or opinion to determine if the Veteran's vertigo was aggravated by her service-connected left ear hearing loss, left ear tympanic membrane perforation, or any other service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure of the VA audiological examinations scheduled in conjunction with his original claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The case will be returned to the Board for further review after additional efforts are made to reschedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability had its onset in active service or is otherwise causally related to active service. The claim will be remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and PTSD have been granted service connection. The depression claim is still pending as new evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are currently evaluated at the minimum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted as there is no evidence to support an increase in disability level beyond what is already reflected by the current evaluations. For TDIU, the Veteran does not meet the criteria due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran experienced continuous symptoms of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus since his active service. Therefore, the criteria for service connection are met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a misplaced portion of his file. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a new VA examination to assess his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to technical difficulties with the previous hearing and offers the appellant another opportunity for a video-conference hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication of his claims regarding the ratings for right ear hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and records. The issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss and right knee chondromalacia patellae with acute knee sprains are being addressed.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left knee disability and granted it. The Veteran's hearing loss is also found to be service-connected.