Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran is seeking a TDIU rating based on service-connected disabilities. The RO/AMC needs to schedule the Veteran for an examination and determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not receive notice of his scheduled VA examination for bilateral hearing loss disability, and thus good cause has been established. The case is being remanded to schedule a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to noise exposure during service, with no evidence of pre-service or post-service noise exposure. The claims are granted.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis media.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The claims for service connection remain pending and will be addressed after the hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability originated during his active service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability by VA standards and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration regarding whether current hearing loss is related to an in-service head injury during an assault with metal pipes.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, as his service-connected conditions (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) were not considered to be principal or contributory causes of his death. The appellant argued that her husband's PTSD contributed to his strokes and heart attacks, but VA medical opinions did not support this claim.

The Board determined that the appellant's left ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and his right ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and the Board finds that his claim for service connection must be denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service due to lack of in-service symptoms or noise exposure.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and is not presumed to have occurred therein. The criteria for a compensable evaluation for his left ear hearing loss disability have also not been met.

The Board has decided to remand the reopened claims of service connection for right knee, right shoulder, low back, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disabilities due to the need for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss as a result of disease or injury incurred in service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a continued 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, and thus reduced it to 30 percent effective from August 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, a back disorder and neck disorder were first shown after service and following post-service injuries, and hearing loss did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is upheld as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current disability levels.