Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a comprehensive VA examination and consideration of the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating during the period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, citing a December 2010 VA examination report. The Court found it unclear whether the Board considered the functional effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities without taking into account his age and nonservice-connected disabilities. The case is REMANDED to request an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to have started during service and has persisted since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right shoulder, left ankle, right ankle, hypertension, bilateral foot plantar fasciitis with left first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder all had their respective initial rating evaluations determined to be inadequate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to noise. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's skin disorder claim was reopened, and he is now entitled to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The decision on the skin disorder claim remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or current disabilities meeting VA compensation criteria. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right leg disability, left hand disability, and sleep apnea have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and seborrheic keratosis.

All issues are remanded for additional development including obtaining private treatment records and VA medical opinions. The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, skin cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD will be addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right foot disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability due to incomplete development.

The reduction of the disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to noncompensable was proper. The Veteran's cervical spine and left upper extremity disabilities are remanded for additional examinations.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability is considered to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between hearing loss and tinnitus and service, as well as other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his hearing disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that he has a current disability or that any such disability is related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and posttraumatic stress disorder are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely due to noise exposure during his military service, specifically while serving in the Navy Reserve. Therefore, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his current level of bilateral hearing loss severity, as well as recent VA treatment records.