Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for left knee condition, and service connection for gouty arthritis (claimed as gout in both large toes). The claim for service connection of dislocation of the right shoulder was denied due to lack of medical evidence relating the injury to service. New and material evidence has not been presented to reopen this claim.

The Board found that the reduction in the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to 0 percent was proper, as evidenced by improved hearing levels. The service connection claims for flat feet and pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied.

The veteran's hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current tinnitus is likely due to noise exposure during his military service. The issue of right ear hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, to include as secondary to service-connected malaria. The evidence did not show that the veteran's current hearing loss was caused or aggravated by his active service.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's level I hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining relevant records from Federal Health Services and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation of the veteran's hearing loss claim, as the current evidence is insufficient to determine whether it is related to service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals for increased ratings for tinnitus and shrapnel scars, as well as his request for a TDIU. The case is now pending on the issue of service connection for dizzy spells.

The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not constitute an employment handicap, and therefore he is not entitled to vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31 of Title 38, United States Code.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and the need for additional evidence, including a report of an MRI study.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted with an effective date of July 13, 1995.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of the current noncompensable rating.