Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel and medical records from the Claimant's National Guard service. A VA examination is also required to determine if his hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) in June 1964 to December 1964.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with proper duty-to-assist notice. A VA examination will be conducted to assess the severity of his PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic left ear hearing loss during service or within one year of discharge. The VA examiner opined that the current left ear hearing loss is less likely related to military noise exposure and more likely due to natural progression over time. Therefore, service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss existed prior to his military service and did not increase in severity during service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the appellant's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and an opinion on its functional effects. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was aggravated by service, and granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to exposure to noise in service. The Board finds that the Veteran did not have chronic symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, nor do they currently exist.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service connected. The claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with consideration given to continuity of symptoms since service. The appeal is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. However, the claim for left ear hearing loss remains denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria. The claim for tinnitus also remains denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not considered to be related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a pre-existing condition or in-service injury that led to the development of this disability. The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability is unrelated to his time in active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including whether they are related to service or any periods of ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable due to their severity, as he is capable of performing menial work.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not etiologically related to service. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding that his current hearing loss was present during service or aggravated by service.

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

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of a compensable disability rating throughout this appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities meet the percentage rating standards for TDIU, and a vocational consultant has indicated that his service-connected hearing loss rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation at the very latest as of June 1, 2006. As such, the Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was present at service entrance and did not undergo chronic worsening during or as a result of service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, as defined by VA standards. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.