Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable disability rating based on VA examination results and clinical evidence. The noncompensable evaluation currently assigned accurately reflects his disability picture.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and is related to noise exposure. However, there is no evidence of hearing loss in service or for many years after service, which weighs against a finding of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been manifested by numeric designations no greater than Level III for the right ear and no greater than Level II for the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that further development of the claim is needed due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service. The case is REMANDED for a new medical opinion.

The claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including issuance of a Statement of the Case on the issue of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The evidence does not support an increase in the disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, back disability (as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability), left shoulder disability, and left elbow disability are related to his active service. The Veteran's tinnitus and vision loss do not have onset during active service or are not etiologically related to active service. Adult acne is also not related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying claimed stressors. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, will be evaluated in light of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, affect him in such a way that he is precluded from performing either sedentary or physical work. The Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to his active service. The appeal for bilateral hearing loss and hallux valgus angulation of the left and right feet has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and scars were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability for hearing loss or sufficient functional impairment to warrant a compensable rating for the left shoulder disability or scars.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.,Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was not shown to be caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. This includes obtaining relevant medical records, including from his National Guard service, as well as an addendum opinion to address whether his current hearing issues are related to military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service loud noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. For the issue of frostbite/cold injury residuals, a VA examination is needed to determine if any such residuals are present and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The TDIU claim will be deferred until these issues are resolved.

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 bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's strongyloides infection did not have its onset in service and was not related to his service-connected conditions. The cause of death, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), is considered immediate rather than contributory.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, left foot pes planus with plantar callus, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted. The Veteran had preexisting left foot pes planus that was aggravated by service, and his current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.