Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and psychotic disorder, cervical spine disability, low back disability, tinnitus, shell fragment wound scars, hemorrhoids, and left ear hearing loss, result in painful, limited motion that impairs his ability to perform employment of both a physical and sedentary nature. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed service-connected due to herbicide exposure. The claims for peripheral neuropathy, skin cancer, hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine their relationship to service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional service in-patient clinical records and a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The claims of service connection and TDIU are inextricably intertwined with several other issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity, bilateral hearing loss, and IBS has been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities related to these conditions or their development in service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastric schwannoma.

For the entire increased rating period, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was productive of no worse than Level VI hearing impairment in his right ear and no worse than Level VII hearing impairment in his left ear. The Board found that for the entire appeal period, the criteria for a 30 percent rating have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion regarding his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and bilateral hand disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and Raynaud's syndrome of the toes. Specifically, a VA examination is required to address whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as his current level of impairment does not warrant such an evaluation.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with the effective date set at December 15, 2010. Prior to May 15, 2012, he was rated at 10 percent for his bilateral hearing loss. Since then, no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected hearing disability.

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

The Veteran's appeal regarding the issue of whether his Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the July 2011 rating decision was timely filed has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and treatment records. The case will be reconsidered after these are added.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a compensable level of hearing loss, and therefore, his claim for an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and a need for additional evidence regarding noise exposure during service.