Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but the claims of service connection for lumbar strain and left ear hearing loss disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, both claimed as secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a foot disability was denied in April 1987, and new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim. The Board finds that there is no chronic, identifiable right lower extremity disability in or after service.,Service connection for a hand disability, hearing loss disability, and jaw disability were not established as they are not supported by medical evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal disease, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of jaw injury. The issues were remanded for further development.

The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD, which has resulted in a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not originate in service or until more than a year following service, and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records and private treatment records, as well as SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran will also be provided with a new VA examination to address whether any of his claimed conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a lower back disability. The claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD is also remanded due to the Veteran's testimony indicating worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled videoconference hearing. He will be given another opportunity to attend the hearing.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for entitlement to service connection have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected, and he is granted a grant of service connection for PTSD. The hearing loss claim remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were initially denied in May 2009 due to lack of evidence. However, new and material evidence was submitted within one year of the denial, leading to a reopening of the claim. The RO confirmed that the effective date would be July 21, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that the character of his discharge barred him from receiving VA benefits other than health care under Chapter 17. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which the Board finds was caused by in-service noise exposure. However, due to a lack of audiometric data and conflicting opinions regarding the presence of pre-existing hearing loss prior to service, further medical guidance is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder and a gunshot wound to the right pectoralis major muscle, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

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