Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to grant service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he claims was caused by noise exposure during his military service. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of any current bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before deciding the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The case is REMANDED to obtain all service treatment records for any additional periods of service with the Reserves, verify these periods, and obtain a VA opinion regarding the etiology of the appellant's current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric results do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and expert opinion to address the etiology of any tinnitus or hearing loss disability.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, and the Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to the increase in his bilateral hearing loss rating to 100 percent, which renders his service-connected disabilities sufficient for a total disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied, while his claim for head injury with tension headaches was granted and assigned a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a right shoulder disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus were denied.,Service connection was not granted for either condition as the evidence did not support a finding that the conditions began during or were caused by military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his period of active service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The other claims were not addressed in detail.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for scheduling a videoconference Board hearing. The issues include service connection for migraines and bilateral hearing loss, as well as an increased rating for left arm injuries.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and ensuring that all claims are properly adjudicated.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The VA examiner opined that the current hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure, relying solely on the absence of hearing loss at separation. The Board has ordered a new opinion considering more than just the state of the Veteran's hearing at separation.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and any Social Security Administration disability benefits documents. The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and migraine headaches will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that it is unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since December 11, 2010. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and is therefore denied.