Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The evidence is insufficient to link either condition to active military service.

The Board has decided that the case needs to be returned for additional development due to insufficient rationale in previous medical opinions and incomplete consideration of post-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating, as it only manifests at Level I hearing impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential errors in the examination reports, lack of STRs, and conflicting evidence regarding current disability status.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The increased rating claim for duodenal ulcer is also granted. However, further development is needed for the claims of service connection for diverticulitis/GERD and abdominal aneurysm.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA hearing evaluation reports and clinical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus, both as a direct result of service and secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and examinations related to his right ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new VA audiological examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion in a previous VA audiology examination, and the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's active duty for training periods and further development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his attorney, and the issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA audiology examination to determine if the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service and whether it is aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus or right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for an addendum opinion to address the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was not diagnosed with tinnitus, and his current bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 50% since December 5, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal to the RO for additional action, including consideration of a statement from a fellow service member who was exposed to jet aircraft noise during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by his active service, and thus he is entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of an initial compensable evaluation for hydrocele of the right scrotum remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in service or within one year of discharge, and it is not otherwise shown to be causally related to service. The claim was denied as there was no evidence linking the current hearing loss disability to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as evidenced by normal audiometric findings during service and no reported symptoms until after discharge. The VA medical opinion found that these conditions are not caused by or a result of exposure to high levels of noise while on active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected right elbow and right shoulder disabilities, as well as a VA audiological examination to determine if he has bilateral hearing loss. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.