Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting audiometric test results and a need for further medical evaluation. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, the issues of service connection remain unresolved as new evidence does not establish a clear and unmistakable increase in severity during service or provide sufficient evidence to determine if noise exposure caused or aggravated these conditions.

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

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claim for an effective date prior to May 28, 2010 for tinnitus. The claims of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and back disability were denied.

The Board denied service connection for frostbite of the feet, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is no direct evidence showing that current foot symptoms are related to cold weather exposure during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his service and may not be presumed to have been due to noise exposure during service. The examiner concluded it is less likely than not that the Veteran's hearing loss was due to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including noise exposure. As a result, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 20 percent since January 2010, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA audiological examination and opinion regarding left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and conduct a VA examination. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains on hold, as does the service connection claim for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Board has found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to his military service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus type II are service-connected. The claim for residuals of thyroid removal is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to herbicide exposure or service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability and therefore, his claim for service connection cannot be granted. The decision is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and colonic polyps was granted, but rated at 10 percent prior to January 24, 2011.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence as to whether the Veteran has a current right ear hearing loss disability as a result of service.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no worse than Level I hearing acuity in the left ear. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the criteria for establishing this disability have not been met.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has also been reopened. A VA examination is needed to determine if there is a relationship between his current foot disability and in-service symptoms.