Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to have its onset in service and the Board finds that it is related to the in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an additional VA examination regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as the previous opinion was inadequate. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as she failed to report to VA examinations and her claimed conditions are not shown to be related to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to his active service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between his current conditions and military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not service-connected and denied his claim for increased rating of right ear hearing loss. The right ear hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is service-connected, as it can be linked to his military service due to continuity of symptoms since discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as the audiometric results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination and extraschedular consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and an additional VA audiological examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to July 15, 2002, or in excess of 10 percent from July 15, 2002, to March 12, 2007.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 50 percent from August 22, 2008. The Board has granted a higher rating for his service-connected disabilities, which also meets the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, meet the percentage requirements for TDIU as they stem from a common etiology. The Board finds that these conditions render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and an increased evaluation for tinnitus were denied. The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and his tinnitus is already at the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD as a result of combat stressors in Vietnam. The claim for peripheral neuropathy is reopened, and the Veteran's claim for service connection remains pending.

The Board has found that further development is needed, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss will be remanded to allow for this additional development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted. The other claims of service connection are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them during his hearing.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as incurred in service. The issues of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service records and VA treatment records, as well as obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran will also be provided with a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding his increased rating claims.