Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not causally or etiologically related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and post-service hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, as well as her claims for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its related conditions. The decision also noted that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU due to their combined effect on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with features of anxiety is reasonably shown to have been caused by his service-connected disabilities, to include coronary artery disease. Service connection for depressive disorder with features of anxiety is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is not shown to be present in service or within one year of separation, and thus does not meet the criteria for service connection. However, the left ear hearing loss disability was found to have onset during service and is therefore granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran had not submitted new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss remains on appeal.

The Veteran's hepatitis B and C were not found to be service-connected, while his left ear hearing loss was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and awarded a noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, while the initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there are no findings more severe than Level II in either ear.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). The rating decisions related to bilateral hearing loss disability and left shoulder disability are pending further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability, pes planus, or acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder NOS) related to his service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided in connection with these claims were inadequate and requires further development, including obtaining STRs from the Veteran's period of service in the Army Reserve, scheduling new VA examinations for the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right shoulder disabilities, and hearing loss, and reviewing the Veteran's lay assertions regarding his inservice injuries.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are currently considered service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private treatment records, as well as scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability under the VA's criteria for such disabilities, and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.