Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and considering newly submitted evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was not aggravated by his period of active service, but he presented additional lay statements and testimony suggesting possible worsening due to an in-service injury. As such, the Board granted service connection on a new-and-material basis.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation based on current audiometric results.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on VA examination results and audiometric testing.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss is not attributable to his military service and denied his claim for service connection. The tinnitus issue remains pending as a new examination was ordered but has yet to be completed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the VA criteria for hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing before a Board member at his local RO. The issues include reopening service connection claims and rating determinations for various disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of her appeal due to receiving a 100% disability evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to service, and thus grants this claim.,However, the evidence does not support a finding of bilateral hearing loss disability due to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, providing proper VCAA notice, scheduling a VA examination for hearing loss, and scheduling examinations for the lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral ankle disabilities, and right elbow disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent evaluation, as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on the applicable regulatory standards.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not causally related to service, as his conditions did not manifest within one year of discharge and there is no evidence linking them to in-service noise exposure. The examiner concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss was less likely caused by acoustic trauma in service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has established a current disability (tinnitus) and there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation, as well as a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that this evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his condition and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn with respect to the issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an SOC addressing his claims of increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.