Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's renal cancer was caused by herbicide exposure and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. The appeal is now pending with the RO.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current rating of 30 percent already takes into account the severity of his hearing impairment, which is considered in the current schedular rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or any current disability due to such exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he claims was incurred during active duty. The VA has ordered additional verification of his service and requested that the claims file be reviewed by a VA examiner to determine if there is any new evidence that would support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a retrospective medical opinion regarding whether her service-connected disabilities rendered her unemployable from April 5, 2006 to December 31, 2007. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining this information.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional information and records, including SSA records and treatment records from VA. The Veteran's claims for service connection on these issues are pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and lumbosacral spine disability, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran is now entitled to a full merits review on these issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the newly submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an examination to assess the impact of his hearing loss on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition. The Veteran was also found not to meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing at the time of his separation from service and no significant threshold shifts throughout military service. The opinion provided by the May 2011 VA examiner was given more weight due to its consideration of all available evidence and medical rationale.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right hip disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating for a lumbar spine disability has been withdrawn. The claim of an earlier effective date for the right knee disability is dismissed as it constitutes a freestanding claim. The psychiatric disability does not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from private providers and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for a new VA examination considering all audiometric evaluations of record.

The evidence does not establish that the Veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus are related to service, including noise exposure during service. The Board finds no direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Veteran does not have sufficient hearing loss in his right ear to be considered a ratable disability by VA standards, so he does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, dermatitis or eczema, and a low back injury under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran's low back disability was caused by VA care.