Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss disability in either ear, and the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not causally related to his active service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The case is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing before a Board member sitting at the RO.

The Board determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as they were more likely due to post-service noise exposure from civilian occupations.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including scheduling an examination and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a chronic left shoulder disorder are currently before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss disability and granted it. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of imbalance and dizziness, which is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The right ear hearing loss was found not to be related to service, but as it was within normal limits at separation from service, the claim will proceed under presumptive provisions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for disseminated coccidioides, claimed as Valley Fever and granted it. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have also been found to be related to his period of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, including consideration of an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities. The AMC must also confirm if there are any outstanding private or VA treatment records.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing was normal at separation from service and opined that his current hearing loss is less likely due to noise exposure in-service. However, the Board finds this opinion insufficient as it does not consider the Veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding overpayment of disability compensation benefits, clarification on the status of his hearing loss and back disability claims, and potential reconsideration of these issues.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as it is cumulative and redundant of previous records and statements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a diagnosis of hearing loss until after separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it needs to be addressed in conjunction with the hearing loss rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension with renal insufficiency, finding no evidence of a current disability that meets VA criteria for hearing loss or hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a social and industrial survey to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for epididymitis and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss disability did not increase beyond its natural progression during service, and there is clear and unmistakable evidence to support this conclusion. The VA examiners have consistently opined that the current bilateral hearing loss is unrelated to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.