Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not etiologically related to active service and denied his claim for service connection on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being needed, including scheduling a VA audiological examination.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The disabilities were not found to be etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss disability is not found to warrant a compensable rating as his puretone threshold average does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to noise exposure during active duty service, and the claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right foot disability is rated at the minimum level, while left ear hearing loss does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's military duties likely presumed significant noise exposure during active duty and that his current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating based on current audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic otitis media of the left ear.,The preponderance of the evidence weighs against a finding that the Veteran currently has bilateral hearing loss or chronic otitis media of the left ear due to events in active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and initial ratings, finding that no intent to file a claim existed prior to December 17, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is likely related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The case is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding a November 2010 private audiological examination and for the Veteran to be scheduled for a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues, and a Travel Board hearing will be scheduled at the RO.

The Veteran's unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with alcohol abuse and major depression and bilateral hearing loss, occurred no earlier than December 11, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a hearing disability meeting VA criteria. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from March 19, 2008 was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for abdominal muscle and groin strains was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability requires further development due to incomplete audiometric testing records.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have disabling hearing impairment during service or for many years after service, and that any hearing loss found from 2011 forward was not caused by disease, injury, or noise exposure during service. Therefore, the claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.