Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current hearing disability, which he claims is related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral retinitis pigmentosa was incurred during her military service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.,The VA examiner opined that it is 'probably at least as likely as not' that the Veteran's bilateral retinitis pigmentosa developed during her period of active duty.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is found to be the result of noise exposure during his military service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted based on the presumption of service connection due to exposure to loud noise during active duty.

The Veteran's initial claim for a right ear hearing loss disability was granted, and he is now receiving a noncompensable rating. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability has been resolved in his favor with the effective date set at April 27, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and knee conditions is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a current bilateral hearing loss disability and knee condition that are related to his military service.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found that the Veteran's RLS is not related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected depression was granted. His increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were also granted, effective May 22, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 40 percent from May 7, 2010 to September 20, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to inconsistent test results and the need to obtain updated medical records.

The Veteran met the minimum criteria for schedular TDIU and was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for fracture of the right distal ulna was also denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus began during service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim is also granted.

The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner regarding the relationship between current hearing loss and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any skin disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations and to obtain relevant medical records, as well as to determine the nature and etiology of any current disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, Crohn's disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, and right knee disability. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a right knee disability.