Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for malaria has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II; anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified; and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the current disability is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss that is service-connected. The Board finds no evidence of a current disability and the medical evidence does not support a finding of in-service noise exposure resulting in hearing impairment.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 28, 2012, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter remains on appeal. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and skin disorder (chloracne) are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to be due to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to its onset in service. For his bilateral hearing loss, while he has a current disability, there is no evidence of such being present during service or within one year postservice, and the competent medical evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, as well as the possibility of obtaining additional VA treatment records. The claim for drug/medication dependency is also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinion and development of records.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the competent and credible evidence is against a finding that the Veteran had a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes prior to April 20, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a combined effects opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the May 2014 VA audiological examination. Additional evidence is needed, including records of a cerumen removal procedure performed in 1983/1984.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no worsening of symptoms or additional evidence provided to support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing disability for VA compensation purposes, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The tinnitus claim remains pending as development was requested but not completed.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 10 percent from February 20, 2014 to June 26, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for bilateral hearing loss and a skin disorder, effective before the Board could issue a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability, a muscle twitching disorder, balance symptoms, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were related to her military service.