Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ring finger, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee conditions have been denied.,Service connection was granted for a left wrist condition (rated as 10 percent disabling), GERD (rated as 10 percent disabling), lumbosacral strain (rated as 10 percent disabling), and left ear hearing loss (rated as 10 percent disabling).

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss to his active duty service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was related to his service, but the Board found that his bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in service and is unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and his claims for service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a right index finger fracture are denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing such disabilities were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The appeal will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities cause him to be housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes during active duty. The VA examiner provided negative opinions regarding both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and insufficient evidence to establish a link between right ear hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for new examinations and additional medical records. The service connection claim for left plantar fibroma is inextricably intertwined with the temporary total disability rating claim.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and granted it, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss disability was incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of left ear hearing loss. The issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss and initial compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a perforated tympanic membrane. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues as they are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which may be related to combat noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, initial rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and initial rating in excess of 10 percent for low back strain were denied. The claim for TDIU was not addressed as it is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a mood disorder. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, shoulder disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, loss of balance and vertigo, chest pain, heart dysrhythmia, and blood clots and phlebitis were denied. The claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability was also denied.