Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and missing VA medical records. A new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had onset in service or is related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of VA knee examinations. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are also on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, a right hand small finger laceration, and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted since the February 2014 rating decision. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current disability.,The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus from December 15, 2017 remains remanded due to the need for further development and clarification.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Gulf War Illness, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome are all remanded as there is insufficient evidence in the record to determine their validity.,Service connection will be granted based on direct evidence of a condition during service or otherwise established by competent medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding his left quadricep or thigh injury, left ankle condition, head injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The cases are being returned for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for left ankle, left shoulder, acid reflux, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives and insufficient audiometric results. Another remand is required for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is granted as service-connected. The remaining issues of bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral knee conditions, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, and the Board found that his disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on exceptional patterns of hearing impairment or other provisions in the Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The case is remanded to consider the Veteran's claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral shin splints is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the presence of a disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability, as the previous examination did not include a full description of the functional effects caused by his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for tic douloureux due to a recent change in law, specifically the PACT Act. The appellant is presumed to have been exposed to toxic substances during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,There was no evidence of in-service injury or disease leading to the current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case to refer the issue of TDIU prior to June 22, 2012 for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet schedular requirements for TDIU but may warrant referral for extraschedular review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, heart disorders, erectile dysfunction, headaches, visual disorder, skin disorder, and respiratory disorder are all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and tinnitus have been granted a compensable rating of 40 percent. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.