Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for new VA audiological examination and additional audiogram results.

The Board has determined that there is a reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as insufficient consideration of his skin disability. Additional examinations and records are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and sleep apnea, which represents a complete grant of the benefits sought on appeal.,Further development is necessary prior to a merits analysis of the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss and service connection for an ear condition (other than hearing loss).

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for myofascial pain syndrome as secondary to multiple scars, residuals of excision basal cell carcinoma, biopsies, actinic keratosis, and melanoma. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to meet the definition of a disability for VA purposes but the etiology of his ruptured left eardrum is unclear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not have its onset in or is otherwise caused by his in-service noise exposure, and is not secondary to his right ear hearing loss or tinnitus. Therefore, service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss is found to have begun during service and is therefore granted as service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation on account of being housebound prior to January 29, 2009 is granted. The claim for aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to inconsistencies in the August 2013 VA examination report and a need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated at 60 percent prior to February 9, 2012 and increased to 80 percent from February 9, 2012 through January 26, 2015. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of these ratings is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus on a de novo basis. The Veteran's left ankle disability, right hip disability, and left eye blindness are not supported by the evidence of record. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the claims of entitlement to service connection for neurology problems exclusive of fibromyalgia symptoms, bilateral hearing loss disability, and fibrocystic breast disease prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and affords him the benefit of the doubt. As such, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective dates for PTSD, right hip disability, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The Board has no further jurisdiction over these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and thus, he is granted service connection for tinnitus.