Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have manifested during service and is therefore granted service connection. The issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have onset in service or within one year of service and was not caused by or otherwise related to the Veteran's active service. Therefore, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or skin basal cell carcinoma of the forehead. The preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, and back disability claims. The RO must ensure all relevant records are associated with the case file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently manifested by no worse than level VII hearing acuity in the right ear and level II on the left, warranting a 10 percent rating. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus disabilities and finds no in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. As a result, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the RO in April 2009, and this decision has not been appealed. The Board remanded the case to conduct additional development but found no substantial compliance with its February 2012 remand instructions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran needs a VA examination to assess the current severity of his hearing loss disability, and the RO must consider whether he is entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service, as evidenced by audiometric testing results during and after his active duty. The Veteran has consistently reported experiencing difficulty hearing since his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot metatarsalgia is related to his service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria, so service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

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

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain a medical opinion regarding the cause of death, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions are contributory causes or not.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the inconclusive nature of the VA audiological examinations conducted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his military service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that there is a need to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with an opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss after May 5, 2012 is denied as the assigned 10% disability rating adequately reflects his current level of impairment.

The Board found that a chronic hearing loss disability was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and the most probative evidence failed to link the current disorder to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a private audiogram and ensuring compliance with VA's regulations regarding hearing loss evaluations.

The Veteran withdrew from appellate consideration all issues remaining on appeal, including his claims for service connection and initial ratings.