Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back condition. The Board finds that these conditions are related to service and grants service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for VA examinations. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, a skin condition, and upper body skin cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to service noise exposure or his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran will need an additional VA medical opinion to determine if his hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus, which is associated with the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to uncertainty regarding the cause of his gait issues and whether they are related to his service-connected BPPV. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board found no evidence of a permanent increase in the severity of the Veteran's hearing loss disorder during service, and thus denied service connection for aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no legal basis to award higher ratings. The claim for service connection for eye disorder and corneal scars was not addressed due to the nature of the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ear disability, back disability, bilateral ankle disabilities, and frostbite of the hands and feet. The evidence does not show any right ear disability other than hearing loss and tinnitus for which the Veteran is already service connected.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility to purchase an automobile and adaptive equipment due to loss of use in hands or feet.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report for a VA examination and unclear notification of the examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is granted for PTSD, as the evidence supports a diagnosis related to combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he did not have a hearing loss disability at the time of his September 2008 claim and has not had one since.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus have been denied. The claim for higher rating for right knee disability remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the debt of $29,785.00 for overpayment of nonservice-connected pension benefits was withdrawn. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to new evidence showing current hearing loss in one or both ears.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for TDIU and special monthly compensation due to additional evidence being needed, including VA clinical records and a social and industrial survey. The issues are inextricably intertwined with a pending claim of service connection for depression.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA, SSA, and private medical records. A new VA examination will also be conducted to address the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, as they are related to his in-service noise exposure. His major depression disorder is also service-connected, as it is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.