Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's sciatic neuralgia is related to his active military service, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it requires additional development.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, sleep apnea, GERD, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss. The reasons provided were that there was no confirmed diagnosis of these conditions in service or since service separation, and continuity of symptoms since service could not be established.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability application documents. The Veteran is also asked to provide information about any private treatment received since April 2010.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and secondary burns with scarring due to medication error on the left forearm. The Board finds that while the Veteran reported decreased hearing acuity in his left ear during service, there is no post-service evidence of a current disability as defined by VA regulation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected, as it was aggravated by his military service. The issue of hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and gallbladder condition, as well as an initial compensable disability rating for gastritis with hiatal hernia, were denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing and is awaiting such a hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA audiological examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and its impact on his occupational functioning and daily activities. The initial rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to ensure that his hearing loss disability is properly evaluated and any additional treatment records are obtained.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the preponderance of the evidence is against finding a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD has been granted, with a current rating of 50 percent. The evidence shows moderate symptoms and impairment in social functioning.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability alone does not render him unemployable, as he would be able to obtain and sustain substantially gainful employment with accommodations for his hearing impairment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not been shown to be severe enough to warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during service, are not related to in-service noise exposure, or are otherwise related to service. As a result, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was found to not warrant a compensable rating prior to May 12, 2012 and a rating greater than 20 percent from that date. The Board denied the claims for increased ratings.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus the Board does not have appellate jurisdiction to review these claims.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate was denied as he does not meet the criteria due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss did not develop as a result of any incident during his service.