Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and providing a clarifying medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining clarification from the VA examiner regarding the middle ear condition noted during his August 2012 examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current conditions.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for hearing loss and an increased evaluation for his left knee condition.,VA has remanded the case to provide another examination for the left knee issue.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not begin during or as a result of his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his current rating is already the maximum available benefit.

The Board has granted service connection for a traumatic deviated nasal septum, which is considered a residual of an in-service nasal fracture. The Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss disabilities are not currently addressed as they were not specified in the original appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since May 11, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show any objective findings of these conditions during or immediately after service, nor is there any competent medical opinion linking them to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including verifying all of the Veteran's service dates with respect to each period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA and obtaining all medical treatment records dated during periods of reserve service. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn prior to a decision. The Board finds that tinnitus has been present since, and cannot be reasonably disassociated from, his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty training and inactive duty training, obtaining his complete personnel file, and providing an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his hearing loss and service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his military service, with no presumption applied. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) are found to be sufficient by themselves to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran is not in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including gunshot wounds, tinnitus, scar, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board denied the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.