Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the January 2009 VA audiological examination report and the August 2009 addendum thereto, requiring further VA evaluation for a comprehensive opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The issue of service connection for residuals of mastoidectomy, right ear (claimed as right ear drum scar tissue) is pending.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's appeal is not about service connection and thus does not address any of his claims for service connection. The case must be remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected scar residuals of a right thumb laceration and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as it relates to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA ENT examination.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a new VA orthopedic examination and a VA audiological examination to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine injury and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that current hearing disabilities were not incurred or aggravated in service.

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

The Board found no evidence of a current disability due to service exposure, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and skull fracture residuals, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 70 percent. However, the VA examiner opined that these conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since March 29, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. For bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, the Board determined it is related to service and granted service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA/medical records. A VA examination will be scheduled to evaluate the status of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further proceedings due to the need for an updated VA examination and consideration of his service-connected disabilities in determining his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during his periods of active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure and that his current hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for a disability. The Board also noted that his hearing loss could be attributed to post-service occupational experience.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear disability other than hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further development.