Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, and therefore his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected, but his tinnitus is not.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various conditions are under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has returned the case for additional development due to incomplete evidence. The Veteran's claims for hearing loss service connection and automobile and adaptive equipment benefits are pending.

The Board denied service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Board has ordered a new examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the current assigned ratings are considered appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have arisen in service and continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, shrapnel wound scars, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss disability, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular bases.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and increased the ratings for arthritis of both knees to 10 percent each.

The Veteran's service-connected Arnold-Chiari I Malformation with cervical syringohydromyelia status post suboccipital craniotomy is currently manifested by no attributable symptoms, other than those symptoms for which he is receiving a separate evaluation.

The Board has determined that it does not have jurisdiction over the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU due to pending appeals before the Court. The claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as there are no new or material issues of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of the record, including an audiologist's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and whether it is related to service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss can be attributed to his conceded in-service noise exposure, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiner. Additional medical comment is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and denied service connection for this condition. The case of bilateral hearing loss remains pending, as does the issue regarding an eye disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss to an extent recognized as a disability for VA purposes, and thus service connection cannot be granted. For left ear hearing loss, although the Veteran currently has a hearing loss disability for VA purposes, there is no competent evidence establishing a medical nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim was previously denied in a final July 2008 rating decision, as there was no evidence of current hearing loss disability sufficient for VA compensation purposes under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiologic examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected left ear hearing loss and the nature and etiology of any current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.