Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his military service, with exposure to noise during his time as an aircraft mechanic. The evidence supports this conclusion.

The September 2005 decision granting service connection for hearing loss was found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous, resulting in an effective date of November 10, 2004.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted prior to April 27, 2012.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was manifested by Level I hearing acuity in both ears, with speech discrimination ability of 94 percent or higher. As such, the assigned noncompensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6100 adequately reflects his disability level and symptomatology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, with the benefit of doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss had its onset during service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of right ear hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral vascular disease, and arthritis of the hands, feet, knees, elbows, and hips. The conditions were not shown to be related to military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be due to noise exposure during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a TDIU. The case is being remanded to the AOJ due to incomplete development of these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, bilateral eye disability, chronic gastrointestinal disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of exposure to mustard gas or other presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial 50 percent rating prior to December 18, 2008 and a 70 percent rating from that date through August 16, 2010.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that was incurred in service and is therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an increased rating for organic personality disorder with organic brain syndrome has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and a TBI examination.

The Board has granted reopening of the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied reopening of the claim for right ear hearing loss. Service connection is presumed for diabetes mellitus as it became manifest within a year after separation from service. The Veteran's ED is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of military noise exposure, and service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of bilateral distal radius fractures are rated at 10 percent each, and his left ear hearing loss is rated as 0 percent. The Board granted the increased evaluations for the bilateral wrist conditions but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and TDIU prior to March 31, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues on appeal include TDIU, SMC, bilateral hearing loss, pes planus disability rating, hypertension, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss are currently before the Board.