Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss and left ear sensorineural hearing loss, finding no evidence of such disabilities during or within one year after his military service. The claim for tinnitus was granted as it is presumed to have been incurred due to combat exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including obtaining relevant employment records and clarifying opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a more contemporaneous examination of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board found no evidence of a low back disability, hypertension, or an acquired psychiatric disorder during service or within one year post-service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the nature and severity of his right lower leg puncture wound residuals. Additionally, an addendum opinion from the April 2010 VA audiologist or another qualified clinician will be requested to address whether his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and ischemic heart disease are granted. The TDIU rating is also granted, with a combined disability rating of 80%.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and service treatment records from his ARNG service. A new VA examination will also be scheduled to assess the current severity of his right ear hearing loss and provide an opinion on whether his left ear hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and completing the VA Form 21-8940. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the appellant. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disorder, and neck disorder. The case will be remanded to allow for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin disorder (to include chloracne) have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his period of service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The case is being remanded for a VA examination to address the claim for service connection for bilateral hammer toes and calluses.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the possibility that his service-connected hearing loss may have worsened since his last VA examination in December 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as he does not have current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and there is no evidence linking any in-service events to his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with symptoms beginning in service and continuing after separation. As such, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional audiometric records. The current rating of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss remains unchanged.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay assertions of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms since service are credible. Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for BCC of the head, face, and neck prior to May 11, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service or post-service noise exposure that could support a grant of service connection. The claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was also denied.