Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and eczema were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for eczema, but his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he attributes to inservice noise exposure. The case is being remanded due to the need for a medical examination and opinion regarding whether his preexisting right ear hearing loss was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issue of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, specifically noting no evidence of a chronic condition during service or an applicable presumptive period. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding audiometric results and updated VA treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide these documents for further evaluation of his hearing loss and tinnitus claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of double lung pneumonia were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disability or in-service injury.,The Veteran was granted new and material evidence to reopen his claims for tinnitus and recurrent tinea cruris, both likely attributable to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not caused by active service, and the claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) remains pending.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not service connected as it was not caused or aggravated by his active duty service, and there is no evidence of a chronic disability within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and an opinion on whether there is at least a 50% probability that his left shoulder and wrist disorders are causally related to active service. The case will also be referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director, Compensation Service for consideration of a compensable rating for the hearing loss on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has requested additional medical opinions and is remanding the case for further consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right ear hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulation and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of residuals of heat stroke was remanded due to the lack of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or chronic symptoms in service that would support the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the knees was incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and post-fracture of the large toe, second toe, third toe, and fourth toe of the right foot are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities likely combine to preclude gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for additional examinations to assess his PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable prior to February 22, 2013 and at a 10 percent rating beginning on that date. The Board finds no basis for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection is granted for both conditions.