Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it does not meet the regulatory criteria for a disability at separation from service. However, given his account of in-service acoustic trauma and his combat status, the claim will be granted based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disorder, and blood disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA audiological examination and clarifying opinions from private audiologists.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, as there is evidence of current disabilities and in-service exposure to noise. The benefit of doubt rule was applied due to the equipoise of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including noise exposure. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for award of a schedular TDIU, but the weight of the competent, probative evidence indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and his lumbar spine disability is rated at the minimum compensable level. The Board finds no higher evaluation is appropriate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service exposure to noise trauma. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a personal hearing at the RO in Little Rock, Arkansas. The issues of service connection for various conditions are under consideration.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety disorder, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus disability, back disability with sciatica, numbness of the right lower extremity, ruptured disc, residuals of a neck injury, and left arm and shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest during service and is unrelated to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service acoustic trauma or other event, disease, or injury that could be linked to his current hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent or credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 22, 2013 was granted. After that date, he received a 10% disability evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran suffered from these conditions during his active service and continues to suffer from them, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine if he is entitled to increased ratings.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been service-connected and assigned a noncompensable disability rating effective March 13, 2008. No compensable rating is warranted as the condition does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and PVD of the lower extremities, as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder, was granted. The effective date for this grant is set at June 19, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for examinations to address the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as well as to determine whether he has ischemic heart disease. The claims are also being remanded to decide his claim for service connection based on exposure to herbicides.