Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be related to service, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as the VA examination was ordered.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability, right ear hearing loss disability, bilateral tinnitus, and hypertension. The appeals are resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for hypertension and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss are also being remanded.

The Board has ordered a new examination and etiological opinions due to the inadequacy of the previous opinion. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is presumed sound at service entrance, while his right ear hearing loss may be related to military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and assigned a 30 percent disability rating. The heart condition, soft tissue sarcoma, mole removal residuals, and locked jaw due to broken right jawbone are all considered direct service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and assigned a rating of 0% (noncompensable). The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the left ear hearing loss issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination to assess the functional effects of her bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is not attributable to active service, including exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service occurrence.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was noted on his entrance examination and preexisted service. The examiner concluded there was no increase in severity during service, and thus denied service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not result in a compensable disability rating as his pure tone thresholds and speech recognition scores were all within the noncompensable range.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss did not occur during service and was less likely than not service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease during active service or otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an addendum medical opinion regarding the impact of his hearing loss on employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss disability were not incurred or aggravated during his periods of active duty service, and thus cannot be granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being evaluated to determine if it is related to his military service or preexisted service.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since September 14, 2010. The VA audiometric evaluations have consistently shown Level I or Level VI hearing in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) are related to his service-connected tinnitus. As a result, these claims have been granted.

The Veteran was still gainfully employed prior to June 1, 2009 and thus is not entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for that period.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of low back disability, left lower extremity numbness, right lower extremity numbness, and left upper extremity numbness. The initial evaluation for fracture of the right little finger was granted with a 10% rating. Service connection for TBI prior to October 23, 2008, and PTSD since that date were both granted with increased ratings. Finding of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted prior to December 20, 2010. Special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound status (SMC/HB) was granted.