Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a hearing conducted by a Veterans Law Judge who is no longer employed at the Board. The appellant was offered the option of a Travel Board hearing or a videoconference hearing, and he requested a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss that meets the criteria for service connection and therefore denied his claim. For the residuals of a laceration of the left third finger, the Board found no evidence to warrant an increased rating beyond 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for further development, including medical examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss, pes planus, and varicose veins.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and the need for a new VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a TDIU have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeals by the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea were denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss requires additional development due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that it is not a compensable disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. As a result, the Board dismisses these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of hearing impairment in service or within one year post-service. The weight of medical opinions does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, New York. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for right ear hearing loss or shortness of breath, including chest pain. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's mastoiditis existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service. The left ear hearing loss is also presumed to have existed prior to service, as there were no in-service complaints or diagnoses of hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence on which to make a reasoned determination regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma during training in service with his artillery unit, but there is no medical evidence linking this exposure to his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids have been withdrawn. The appeal for an initial evaluation higher than 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and residuals of stab wound, left knee, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation for his left ear hearing loss and gunshot wound to the left foot with a scar of the second toe and fracture of the third toe.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a zero percent rating. The Veteran's hypertension is not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more.