Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus were all granted. The Board found that the Veteran had no diagnosed PTSD related to service or any other in-service stressor. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were both determined to be attributable to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability and concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to his death from dilated cardiomyopathy, which had an unknown etiology. The Appellant's claim for DIC benefits was therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, and bilateral knee disability were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injury/illness that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after this action.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, including secondary to bilateral hearing loss, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to noise exposure in service, and the Board finds that it did not manifest within one year of separation from service. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The evidence does not show any hearing loss during or immediately after service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have onset in service or within one year of service and was not caused by his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to noise exposure during active military service. For his bilateral hearing loss and myofascial lumbar syndrome claims, a VA examination was conducted, but further clarification on etiology is needed as the examiner did not consider in-service noise exposure or other relevant post-service medical history.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right leg numbness, and hemochromatosis were denied as they are not service-connected. The Board found that the conditions did not develop during or due to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by Level VIII hearing in the right ear and Level VI hearing in the left ear, resulting in a 50 percent disability rating. The criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated at 40 percent since December 7, 2009. The most recent audiometric evaluations have shown no worse than Level IX in the right ear and Level VI in the left ear.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent) under DC 6100. The VA examinations did not provide evidence of any worsening in the severity of his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he wishes to withdraw his claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a back injury are not shown to have developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and left shoulder disability. The decision will be remanded to obtain a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during active service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his glaucoma is not related to service. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.