Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiology examination and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting SSA disability benefits records. The issues of service connection for hearing loss, brain injury, and sleep apnea will be addressed in a new examination.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all issues from appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as these conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on the presumption of service connection due to continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues for a DRO hearing. The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, heart disorder, and bilateral hearing loss are pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the current disability ratings of 10% are considered adequate based on the severity of his conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service. The current VA opinion was inadequate as it did not consider the Veteran's February 1967 separation audiometric results, which indicated some degree of hearing loss at 3000 Hertz.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and is therefore granted service connection. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss of the right ear has been manifested by no more than auditory acuity Level IV and hearing loss of the left ear has been manifested by no more than auditory acuity Level VII. The claim for an initial rating greater than 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, headaches, and memory loss due to new evidence. The claim is now on the merits.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable prior to January 22, 2013 and as 10 percent disabling on and after that date. The Board found the current ratings were appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a VA examination for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as the current opinion does not address whether his hearing loss began in service or is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and right knee pain have been denied. The claim for chronic low back pain remains pending due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss is adequately contemplated by the rating schedule and no referral for an extraschedular evaluation was warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of his separation from active duty and there is no medical evidence linking the condition to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for referral of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and right hand scar disabilities for consideration of an extraschedular disability rating, finding that the assigned schedular ratings adequately considered their combined effects.