Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss must be remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right upper extremity disability, bilateral hearing loss, left upper extremity disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee strain. The Veteran was also denied a compensable rating for his left axillary adenopathy with rhomboid spasm.

The Board found no evidence linking the current low back disability to service, and denied service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, but the tinnitus claim cannot be adjudicated without addressing the relationship between the hearing loss and tinnitus.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to insufficient examination regarding the relationship between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to assess his functional ability due to service-connected disabilities, particularly hearing loss. The AOJ will also consider the most recent VA medical records and provide an updated supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as it does not meet the criteria to be considered a disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and vertigo were exacerbated by the March 2000 VA procedure, which was a foreseeable complication. The Board finds that this additional disability is due to carelessness or negligence on the part of VA.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and ischemic heart disease do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DMII with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, IHD, and scars. The Board has jurisdiction to consider entitlement to a TDIU in this instance.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest in service, and there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The weight of the most probative evidence does not support a finding that any current bilateral hearing loss is related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated at 30 percent since April 2011. The Board found that the current evaluation is adequate and no higher rating can be assigned.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant in a statement dated October 9, 2015.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss disability is adequately compensated by the assigned ratings, and did not present an exceptional disability picture requiring extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's difficulties with understanding others and participating in conversations are considered within the scope of the rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his request for a hearing, and the case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during service and is granted service connection.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not establish that it was incurred in or aggravated by service.