Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied reopening of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted based on new evidence showing a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board has determined that an additional examination is necessary to determine the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues, and no rating decision or effective date is provided.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for PTSD, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening or establishing these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and is now being reviewed on the merits.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is now being reviewed on the merits.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities has been reopened and is now being reviewed on the merits.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate condition, ganglion cysts (right foot and left wrist), degenerative joint disease (upper and lower extremities), back condition, and sleep apnea secondary to PTSD are all pending and will be remanded for further review.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at least 10 percent since the grant of service connection, and his bilateral hearing loss is also rated as compensable.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss claim, as the current opinion from July 2009 is incomplete and based on insufficient evidence. The right ear hearing loss claim is intertwined with the left ear hearing loss claim.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as to address his service connection claims. The Veteran will be provided with another VA examination for these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, resulting in the dismissal of both issues regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is not causally related to his active service or any incident therein, and thus denied the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is attributable to service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's exposure to acoustic trauma during service is sufficient to establish service connection. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service. The preponderance of the evidence showed that his hearing loss began many years after service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service. The evidence does not show any in-service noise exposure or symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, nor is there any competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period, as determined by VA audiological examinations conducted in October 2011. The examination results indicated Level IV hearing acuity in each ear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are causally related to his active military service, granting the claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was denied, and his claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability is pending due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for tinnitus was also granted as it is considered a direct result of service.