Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, which now includes the Veteran's left ear. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with other service-connected conditions, prevents him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it was first manifested during his active duty and is etiologically related to noise exposure incurred during service. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's tinnitus and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and determine the nature and etiology of any tinnitus. The case will be reviewed by the RO after this development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he attributes to exposure to acoustic trauma in service. The case is REMANDED due to the need for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that none of the Veteran's service-connected conditions were principal or contributory causes of his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not due to noise exposure during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and right ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of duty status during training, obtaining VA treatment records, and scheduling new examinations.

The Board has withdrawn the claim of service connection for PTSD due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The low back disorder is granted as a direct result of in-service heavy lifting. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both found to be related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of a claim are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, treatment records retrieval, and compliance with recent legal mandates.

The rating reduction from 30 percent to 20 percent for a bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded as the evidence does not meet the requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 3.344.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and another opinion on whether it is related to in-service noise exposure or other events. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased rating and service connection claims. The maximum schedular rating of 40 percent has been granted, but no higher as the disability is rated based on an amputation level.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the left foot disability claim, and his bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disabilities (PTSD) were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since December 2008, and the evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.