Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of his statements regarding continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss and entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot condition due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requests clarification on whether the Veteran wants a hearing for his dizziness disability claim.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety is currently rated at 50 percent. The effective date for this rating has been set as November 30, 2007.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be service-connected. The right and left knee disabilities, as well as the bilateral pes cavus, metatarsalgia, and fasciitis were not granted increased ratings.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his pending appeals, including those related to cervical spine disorder, liver disorder (including fatty liver), GERD, skin disorder, left knee disorder, gallbladder disorder (including gallstones), erectile dysfunction, IBS, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in this case, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to address the appellant's claims for service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his National Guard service and obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss. After considering all available evidence, including a private medical opinion linking current hearing loss to in-service acoustic trauma, the Board finds that service connection is established.

The Veteran's cause of death was congestive heart failure due to or as a consequence of COPD. The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining home hospice care records and providing an opinion on whether service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's appeal involves disagreement with the initial rating assigned following the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has characterized this matter in light of the distinction noted in Fenderson v. West, 12 Vet. App. 119 (1999).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (interstitial lung disease, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and tinnitus) make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to active military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus. The hearing loss claim will be remanded as requested.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and requests for additional development. The effective date of service connection for coronary artery disease is also being addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anaplastic astrocytoma was denied due to lack of a nexus between the condition and his military service. His claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or onset within one year post-service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of left ear hearing loss for VA service connection purposes, and thus cannot establish entitlement to service connection.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable due to his coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and other conditions. The Board finds that a TDIU is warranted.