Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to concerns about the accuracy of the last VA examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is also seeking a higher rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability, which has been remanded as well.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to loud noise during combat. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for fatigue, numbness, and light-headedness are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a disability due to undiagnosed illness or chronic multisymptom illness. The Board finds that his joint aches are related to DJD, which is not considered a presumptive disease under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as the evidence does not establish whether he has a current disability or if it is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarifying opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as to address any potential delayed onset of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no new and material evidence since prior final decisions.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is granted, and he is assigned a 10 percent disability rating for his left shoulder disability since the date of claim. The initial ratings are 10 percent prior to April 30, 2012, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss and skin disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, stomach ulcers, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) were denied as there is no current evidence of a ratable disability for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not incurred in service, including from acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The AOJ will obtain any outstanding VA treatment records, give the Veteran another opportunity to provide relevant private medical records, and then adjudicate the claims again.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss was not present in service or until many years thereafter and is not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not originate in service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus at separation from service. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by noise exposure during military service.

The Board has restored service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the Veteran's TDIU claim remains pending as severance of service connection was not proper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.