Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and anxiety disorder are not related to his service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had improved and reduced his rating from 50% to 20%, effective November 1, 2003.

The Veteran is seeking a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but the case has been remanded for additional medical examination to determine if these conditions alone are sufficient to prevent him from pursuing substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, which was denied in July 2002. The decision is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for disability ratings for his service connected right ear hearing loss, residuals of the left inguinal hernia repair, and hemorrhoids was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear, tinnitus, and hemorrhoids. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disability are all found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic right knee disability, ulcers, or PTSD due to personal assault. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are not manifested by persistent bleeding, anemia, fissures, nor are they large or thrombotic.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and therefore, new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen her claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and concluding that it is less likely than not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an audiologist examination.

The Veteran seeks a compensable rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss. The Board has determined that a new medical examination is needed to address the current severity of his service-connected left ear hearing loss disability and any other left ear disability found to be related to service, either directly or on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a current VA audio examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining National Guard medical records and verifying his exposure to herbicides. The VA will also schedule the Veteran for a VA audiological examination and podiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no medical evidence showing a relationship between current conditions and in-service noise exposure. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was not addressed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely due to noise exposure during service and grants his claim for service connection.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined to be 70 percent disabling. However, the evidence does not show that these conditions alone prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.