Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing at the Oakland RO. The severance of service connection and pension entitlement are still pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his pending appeals, including those for the issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, entitlement to a compensable evaluation for callus of the left heel status post cautery, entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder, entitlement to service connection for a right leg disorder, and entitlement to service connection for a radial nerve injury. As such, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of outstanding medical records. The Board will review his claims based on this new evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as they are at least in equipoise that his tinnitus is related to active duty service, while his hearing loss claim is not supported by evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's GERD was granted a higher initial rating.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and right hand disorder were all granted. However, service connection for right ear hearing loss was not established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date of October 22, 2009 for the assignment of a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is likely the result of his active service, and the Board has granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain and/or fracture, low back pain, tinnitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and diverticulitis. The reasons provided were that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the available records.

The Board has determined that the appeal must be remanded to allow for further development of the claim, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several issues, including service connection for right ear hearing loss and higher ratings for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, tender scar secondary to laceration and repair of the right ear, status post removal of the right and left great toenails, status post fracture of the distal fifth metatarsal with mild arthritis of the right foot, hallux valgus of both feet, and TMJ dysfunction.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted. The thyroid disability is found to be at least as likely as not due to immunizations received during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disability had their onset in service. Service connection is granted for all four conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a seizure disorder, right ear hearing loss, or tinnitus. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the TDIU claim is pending as it has not yet been perfected through submission of a substantive appeal.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable under the rating criteria, and his claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted with an effective date of June 30, 2010. The decision was based on new evidence received after the initial denial in 2004.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and consideration of all pertinent evidence, including VA treatment records since November 2014.