Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral hand/arm disability (claimed as due to cold injury) are found to be related to service. The acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he claims is due to noise exposure during military service. The Board has determined that a new VA audiological examination is needed to determine if his current hearing loss is related to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a respiratory disorder, to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and emphysema are being remanded due to the need for additional development including verification of his service records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for these conditions remain August 31, 2010.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses from January 13, 2011 to January 17, 2011 are approved as part of his hospitalization for a nonservice-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches. The evidence did not show any in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, nor was there a showing of continuity of symptomatology after discharge. The VA examinations found no current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have sufficient hearing loss in his ears to be considered a disability by VA standards, thus denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and may not be presumed to be.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The Board finds that the Veteran did not have bilateral hearing loss during service and does not meet the criteria for a current disability.

The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss that is likely as not related to his active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA otolaryngologist regarding the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed bilateral hearing loss. The case will be returned to the Board after this is completed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the cumulative impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability, and to determine if he meets the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of chronic or continuous hearing impairment in service and noting that post-service occupational noise exposure is more likely responsible for his current hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA audiological examination, and addressing the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and increased evaluation for left ear hearing loss.

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

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed for the Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss claims due to his incarceration at Deerfield Correctional Center. The RO/AMC will attempt to arrange transportation or contact the correctional facility to conduct these examinations, or schedule them off-site if necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as 30 percent prior to March 31, 2010 and as 10 percent after that date. The Board found no basis for a higher rating.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are attributable to his active military service.