Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma. The claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder (claimed as acute labyrinthitis) was granted with an effective date of June 20, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred during service, as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss or tinnitus. The examiner opined that any hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely due to military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are causally related to service.,Regarding the psychiatric disorder claim, the Veteran's entitlement remains on appeal as it was not addressed by the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including pes planus with degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, bilateral knee and ankle degenerative joint disease, meet the criteria for a TDIU as they result in his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection and increased ratings for the veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease of L4-S1 with radiculopathy, and residuals of a fractured left fibula. The hearing loss disability was not rated as compensable under either pre-amendment or post-amendment regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected dry eye syndrome has been granted and assigned a 10 percent disability rating prior to December 10, 2008. The claim for an increased initial disability rating remains in appellate status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his service, including noise exposure during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, with the Board finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a schedular TDIU under 38 C.F.R. � 4.16(a). However, given evidence suggesting unemployability, the Board has remanded the claim to determine if an extraschedular TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not resulted in any impairment warranting a higher initial disability rating since February 5, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and right foot disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and his time in active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his tinnitus, hearing loss, and osteoarthritis of the left hip.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a 28 year post-service history of working in construction, which was considered when determining whether his current disabilities were related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and ischemic heart disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology, and concluded that current right ear hearing loss was not related to service noise exposure. For ischemic heart disease, there is no presumption applicable due to Vietnam-era service. The Veteran's PTSD claim resulted in a 70% rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a link between his current skin conditions and his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for hypertension, skin cancer, multi-myeloma cancer, hearing loss, and tinnitus must be remanded due to incomplete development. The Veteran's claims are inextricably intertwined with his claim for hypertension.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims for service connection.