Hearing loss Board decisions

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

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since April 2, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no indication of an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment or other factors warranting an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered separately from any unrelated conditions, do not render him incapable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues include service connection claims and reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is attributable to his military service. The remaining claims have been withdrawn due to the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, and Meniere's disease were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that would support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or right ankle disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current level of severity of the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as a need for an updated VA examination. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are also pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during his time as an aviation mechanic. However, there is no evidence of left ear hearing loss in service or for many years after service, thus denying service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have resulted from his in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran's appeal of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing test results at enlistment and separation, and no complaints or treatment for these conditions during service. The VA examiner concluded that the disabilities more likely than not resulted from occupational noise exposure post-service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. After review of the evidence, including a private audiologist's opinion, the Board finds that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for initial development and adjudication of his claim regarding CUE in a December 1986 rating decision, which denied service connection for hearing loss. The earlier effective date claims for tinnitus and hearing loss are also being reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the Veteran's current disability is a direct result of military sexual trauma during service. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to new evidence indicating worsening of the condition.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining records from a USPHS hospital and considering new evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an equilibrium disability will be reconsidered with consideration of all available evidence.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided are inadequate, necessitating a remand to obtain another VA examination with a different examiner.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing audiogram results from specific dates. The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to August 31, 2010. From that date onward, the criteria were met.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen during service and there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure.