Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The preexisting right ear hearing loss disability is also not considered aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, including verification of his reserve service and any periods of active duty. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma in service and has current diagnoses of these conditions. The Board also found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a nexus between the current disability and active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 50 percent, and the TDIU claim prior to July 23, 2014 is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not causally or etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure and did not manifest within one year of discharge from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, as well as to obtain any SSA records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish that he currently suffers from this condition. The Veteran is also seeking an increased evaluation for his residuals of a left ring finger laceration, which remains at 10%.,There is no established bilateral hearing loss or cervical spine disability, and the Veteran's complaints of unspecified joint stiffness are attributed to a recent injury.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a Social and Industrial Survey to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, as the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner concluded that there is no nexus between any current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus and military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during his period of active service, and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for service connection for vertigo must be remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied all of his claims.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and his appeal is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and severity of his back disorder, as well as to obtain updated audiological examination results. The claims will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the threshold disability percentage requirements for consideration of a TDIU on a schedular basis, but further development is needed to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA audiology examination reports and a private audiometric examination report. The appeal will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the medical opinion regarding the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss and its aggravation during service. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further development.