Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his Tricare treatment records from Moody Air Force Base.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and TDIU prior to September 17, 2010. He also seeks service connection for vertigo. The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective June 16, 2010.

The July 1947 rating decision denied service connection for left ear hearing loss due to a finding that the condition was not present during service. The Veteran's claim is being evaluated based on his August 2012 application for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to ensure a complete record upon which to decide the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are as likely as not attributable to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, sleep apnea, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was granted. The rating assigned is 70 percent from December 19, 2008 to April 4, 2014 for the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The right eye disability, to include glaucoma, is granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been resolved in part. His higher rating and earlier effective date claims for lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted, as well as his TDIU claim based on service-connected disabilities. However, his initial rating claim for tinnitus is dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case on his increased disability rating and earlier effective date claims. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional records and further consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities and hearing loss disability do not warrant increased ratings as they did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for higher ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss preexisted his active military service and was not aggravated by it. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss was more likely due to age-related changes rather than military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a right eye disability, but the ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss remain unchanged. The case is remanded to issue a Statement of the Case for these issues.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The initial compensable rating and a rating in excess of 20 percent from August 25, 2012 have not been met.