Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining his complete service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including as secondary to his hearing loss. The VA examiner will be asked to provide opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing an earlier claim was filed.

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

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the audiometric findings.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA outpatient records and a current audiology evaluation. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 28, 2007 remains in appellate status.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not aggravated by service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, tremors, and right knee disability. The Veteran's National Guard service is also being verified.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and a right leg disability are granted, while the claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Board found that service connection could be established for tinnitus due to noise exposure in service, and for a right leg disability as residuals of a broken bone injury in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his military service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not caused by or related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, specifically noise exposure in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a mental condition, left ear hearing loss, and lumbar strain, osteopenia (claimed as a low back condition). The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a causal link between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not establish a nexus to service. The criteria for presumptive service connection were not met due to lack of continuity of symptoms within one year after discharge.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and hypertension was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service causation or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no current disability in either ear meeting VA criteria for a qualifying hearing loss.

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is less likely caused by or a result of military noise exposure, including his time in service. The opinion was based on the pattern of hearing loss, reported onset several years after service, and history of post-military noise exposure.