Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including burn scars, hearing loss, tinnitus, headache disorder, lung disorder, and a right heel injury, have all been denied. The evidence does not support the Veteran's assertions that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, collectively rated at 90 percent, do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, arthritis and chronic tendonitis of the left shoulder, and lichen simplex chronicus have been granted service connection. The Veteran received a 10% disability rating for his left shoulder condition effective January 22, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and the retrieval of outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's COPD is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The appeals for headaches, hearing loss, tinnitus, a right leg disability, and a chronic back disability are dismissed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be due to his period of active military service, and the Board grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as VA treatment records are incomplete.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining more recent medical records and providing the Veteran with examinations to assess his current hearing loss, wrist disability, hypertension, foot bunions, and lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability rating was reduced from 50% to 40%, effective April 1, 2014. His seborrheic dermatitis rating was also reduced from 30% to 10%, effective April 1, 2014. The reduction in both ratings is considered proper based on the improvement in his hearing and skin conditions as evidenced by VA audiology evaluations conducted in October 2011 and October 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right or left knee disability, and his bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected. The Board also finds that hypertension was present within one year of separation from service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is credible evidence linking these conditions to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the nature and extent of his respiratory disorders. The issues of service connection for other respiratory disorders and entitlement to individual unemployability are also being referred.

The Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining audiometry results from his VA treatment records and providing a clarifying medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and DVT with circulatory issues of the right upper leg, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service. The claim for TMJ disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link between the in-service injury and any current condition. Service connection for pulmonary embolism was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to active service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not present during service or for many years thereafter, and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a ratable bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding his hypertension, and issues with obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for diabetes was denied, but his TDIU claim was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.