Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding treatment records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, adenocarcinoma (lobectomy), tinnitus, and a surgical scar from his thoracotomy, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions alone preclude employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a clarifying medical opinion and to associate Social Security Administration records with the claims file.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess his PTSD symptoms and employability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 18, 2012 has been granted and he is now receiving a 10 percent rating effective from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, with unstable blood sugar, and hypertension. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and he meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.,While his PTSD does not meet the criteria for extraschedular consideration, he has been granted a TDIU based on his combined rating of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for a rating decision. The Veteran's hearing loss needs further evaluation and clarification of previous examination reports.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss in the left ear increased during service, and granted service connection for this condition. The effective date of tinnitus was set at January 22, 2008. There is no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 1996 rating decision regarding low back strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or a continuity of symptoms after service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the etiology of his current hearing loss disability, which may be related to in-service injuries. The Veteran will also be provided an opportunity to submit lay statements and additional evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not related to his military service, and he has been granted a non-compensable disability rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to service, but further examination is needed for OSA, hypertension, ED, and GERD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not due to in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.