Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease were not found to warrant higher evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed skin condition and bilateral hearing loss. The AOJ will also confirm whether the Veteran had service in Vietnam and seek any relevant treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during active service. Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied, as the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The claim for service connection for colon cancer remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion to clarify whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his service. The Veteran was also asked to provide any additional relevant treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for further evidentiary development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination with a medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's reported hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are causally related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military noise exposure. The claim for tinnitus was remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an updated VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and found that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the current right ear hearing loss had its onset during service. The claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for left ear hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguities and incomplete private records/opinions, requiring further development in attempt to clarify the Veteran's current diagnosis and etiology of hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a rescheduled videoconference hearing. Service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and right shoulder disability is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has credible reports of in-service noise exposure and current symptoms, which are sufficient to establish a link between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma during active military service, and the Board finds that all elements necessary for establishing service connection are met. Therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were previously denied in September 1996. The most recent denial was in November 2007, where the Board found no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.,The claim for service connection for dizziness (Meniere's disease with episodic dizziness) is also denied as there is no direct or secondary service connection established.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). The Veteran's claims are supported by credible evidence of in-service noise exposure and stressors. Service connection is also granted for alcohol abuse secondary to the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities have been rated at 30 percent each, and his bilateral hearing loss has also been evaluated. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of these service-connected conditions.