Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for prostate disorder, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and determining whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service. The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for prostate cancer are on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected as they are related to his in-service noise exposure during combat.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a scar of the right lower leg is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran incurred a scar during active duty and it is related to his in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to his request for a Travel Board hearing, which was not scheduled. The case will be processed again after scheduling the requested hearing.

The Board has found that the Veteran's flat feet with plantar fasciitis is likely related to active service and grants this claim. The hearing loss disability issue remains pending as it was addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active service, including conceded in-service exposure to acoustic trauma. The examiner must interpret and convert the June 30, 1960 audiometric graphical results into numerical results.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted based on in-service acoustic trauma exposure.

The Board has decided the appeal is not ready for final decision and has ordered a remand to provide the Veteran with a hearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, hepatitis C, and a lung condition due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss that is service-connected, as his separation examination did not show any hearing impairment and the December 2013 VA examiner found no relationship between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with an effective date of December 29, 2010. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and cataracts is denied as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been evaluated under the applicable diagnostic code that specifically contemplated the level of occupational impairment caused by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is denied as there are no symptoms warranting a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his PTSD symptoms, as they are considered part of the 50% rating for that disability. The Board finds that he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain another VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right ear and left ear hearing loss are related to service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 10 percent disabling from August 28, 2012. The Board denied a higher initial rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is granted, with the Board finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether these disabilities are related to service. The case is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and Meniere's disease. The Veteran is now seeking a rating for his bilateral hearing loss.