Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for additional examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds no evidence to support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be no worse than Level III in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine for an 80 percent rating and render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is currently at 70 percent, effective from January 19, 2011 to October 1, 2015. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or warrant an increased combined rating.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims currently on appeal, including those related to type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, PTSD, diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the claims for bilateral hearing loss and vertigo are being remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD, hypertension, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current conditions are presumed to be related to service due to their onset within one year of discharge.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and right ankle condition, as well as to clarify his current psychiatric diagnoses. The claims for service connection on these issues are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus, service connection for cellulitis of the knees, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Veteran withdrew his claim for cellulitis of the knees during a hearing before the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise, allowing for a grant of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, loss of vision, stomach disorder, deviated nasal septum, left and right pes planus, respiratory disorder to include asthma, and left ankle disability. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are not attributable to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensable under the provisions of Diagnostic Code 6100. The VA examinations and private audiometric evaluations have consistently shown mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss in both ears, but no evidence supports an increase in disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions originated during his active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service. The skin disability, including actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, is not considered likely due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated as 0 percent since November 13, 2006. The current level of hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the issues on appeal, including obtaining updated medical records, scheduling VA examinations, and readjudicating the claims.