Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to excessive noise from small arms, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, left foot disability resulting from cold weather injury in service, and tinnitus) is 80 percent. This does not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus was upheld, as the disability is already at its maximum schedular level under Diagnostic Code 6260. A separate compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was also denied due to lack of penile deformity.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The skin disability claim is pending and will require further examination and/or evidence to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he is no longer alive.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from his VA treatment history.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for the issues related to scars on the head, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, melanoma and dental condition.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he attributes to noise exposure during his naval service. The case has been remanded due to the need for a VA audiology examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient discussion of evidence and need for additional development regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral foot disability, and low back disability. The evidence did not show current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Education file, recent VA clinical records, and a VA psychiatric examination. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically addressing the significance of puretone threshold shifts between reference and separation audiograms. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, dizziness, kidney disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction, are not sufficiently disabling to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment given his prior vocational attainment, work history, and level of education.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not result from his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating, and his claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active military service.

The Board vacated its November 2012 decision due to the Veteran's death and dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as there is objective evidence indicating some worsening since the last examination in April 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus cannot establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service exposure to noise trauma, and thus grants service connection for both conditions.