Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss are intertwined and must be addressed together.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level III in both ears, resulting in a non-compensable disability rating. The VA examiner found that the improvement in his hearing after debridement did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, asthma, hemorrhoids, Morton's neuroma, sinusitis, hypertension, right and left shoulder disabilities, a right knee disability, otitis media, rhinitis, costochondritis, GERD, headaches, and left testicle epididymitis. The Veteran does not have hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The examiner's opinions were deemed inadequate due to their failure to consider possible onset within one year of service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, the maximum available rating under VA regulations. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on the objective findings from the VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examinations in August 2014. The Veteran's claims of hearing loss, tinnitus, and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome are being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing, and it is unclear if he withdrew his request. The case will be scheduled for a hearing at the earliest available opportunity.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the representative requested and received approval to withdraw the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA rating purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for visual impairment is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, to include as secondary to hypertension, is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found new and material evidence, but denied the claim as there is no evidence of a current disability due to noise exposure in service.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure is accepted, but his pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted. Bilateral hearing loss is not related to service, while tinnitus is etiologically related to the Veteran's period of active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent and severe audiologic results yielding a noncompensable rating.,Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis to include medial joint compartment narrowing has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for scheduling a hearing before a member of the Board at the RO.