Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not result from his in-service noise exposure and is not related to service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inextricability of his hearing loss and Meniere's syndrome claims. The Board will consider both issues together.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's noise exposure during military service is considered, and his current hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of new evidence submitted after the last rating decision, including lay statements regarding his hearing difficulties. A new VA audiological examination will be scheduled to determine the current nature and extent of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including his periods of reserve duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and his claim for a higher evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were previously denied in November 2007, but new evidence was not received sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. His bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete audiometric reports and the need for updated VA treatment records. A VA examination is also required to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability and service connection for sleep apnea is granted as it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during service or due to in-service noise exposure, and thus denied the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and conducting examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether his combined disability rating renders him unemployable.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating. The Board finds that his current level of hearing acuity does not warrant an increase in his disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and dyskeratosis of the fingers of both hands was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder or bilateral hearing loss during service and concluded that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and iliotibial band friction syndrome, left knee as there was no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent for the period prior to September 25, 2000. The issue of service connection for a back disorder is still pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete VA audiological testing records. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss will be reconsidered after obtaining the full results of his VA audiological tests.