Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and records in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions. The appeal will be remanded to the RO/AMC for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to an insufficient VA examination, and the Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are being returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with a disability rating of 20 percent effective March 24, 2008. The claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and PTSD, as well as the TDIU claim, were denied.

The Veteran's income and net worth exceed the maximum allowable pension rate, thus his claim for nonservice-connected disability pension with special monthly pension benefits is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dental trauma of tooth numbered 15, finding that the conditions were aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted effective February 18, 2009. The Board found that the original May 1971 application included both hearing acuity and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss disability is not attributable to military service. The adjustment disorder with PTSD symptoms claim was granted but with a lower initial rating than requested.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's left vestibular schwannoma was incurred during active service. Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that his post-operative residuals are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, either due to noise exposure or genetic factors. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (including as secondary to diabetes mellitus and exposure to herbicide agents), renal insufficiency (including as secondary to diabetes mellitus), and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The decision is based on a finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or a showing of continuity of symptoms after discharge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated mental health treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The TDIU claim will also be considered.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for consideration as a disability for VA purposes and is therefore not service-connected.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss in service or within one year postservice. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's hearing loss began after service and is more likely due to age-related factors.

The Board found no evidence of aggravation of bilateral pes planus during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The claims for increased evaluations for mechanical low back pain, bilateral hearing loss, and multiple scars were also denied.

The Veteran's heart condition, diagnosed as ischemic heart disease, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss disability are related to his service-connected heart condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a chronic disability during service and the delay between any potential onset and service is too long to attribute these conditions to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted, but he is not entitled to a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss. The effective date of the tinnitus grant remains October 15, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's inability to attend the previously scheduled hearing.