Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to service, and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's headaches, depression, and right ear hearing loss are all found to be related to service. Tinnitus is also found to be related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence submitted is sufficient to establish that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing evidence and providing an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he had unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or the entire spine, and there were no incapacitating episodes due to intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).,The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since June 9, 2009.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and a need for further analysis regarding the Veteran's hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist regarding the relationship between his service-connected tinnitus and his current bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss started in service and is related to his in-service noise exposure, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for scheduled hearings and the need to reschedule them. The claims of service connection for hypertension and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0%) and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as it is manifested by no more than Level I hearing acuity in both ears.

The Veteran's service-connected seizure disorder rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from January 23, 2007 to September 30, 2011. After that date, his other service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the nature and cause of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including a review of service entrance and separation examination audiometry.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea as a TBI residual, finding that the Veteran's current disability is not related to his in-service explosion. The Board granted service connection for multiple explosion residuals of TBI, headaches, and facial scars.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected skin disability manifested by multiple warts was denied. The Board found that the condition did not meet the criteria for any higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board also noted that tinnitus did not become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within one year of service separation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for otitis media and bilateral hearing loss prior to April 10, 2013, were denied. The Board found that the current disability ratings adequately compensate the Veteran for his symptoms.

The Board has dismissed the issues regarding loss of toenail and fingernail, as well as the issue to reopen service connection for stress fractures. The remaining claims have been denied.