Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his disability severity and impact on employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any private records relevant to his claim. The case will be readjudicated after the development is completed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's adjustment disorder is rated at 50 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board finds that the Veteran incurred tinnitus from service and has right ear hearing loss related to in-service noise exposure. Therefore, both conditions are granted as being related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, it is remanded for further development including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for sensorineural hearing loss and finds that it is due to disease or injury incurred in service. The Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during active duty, was exposed to acoustic trauma, and now suffers from chronic symptoms of hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The issues of reopening service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to service connection for tinnitus are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure on the flight line, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service hearing problems or tinnitus. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of a private audiologist report and for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion clarifying whether his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to excessive noise from small arms, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, left foot disability resulting from cold weather injury in service, and tinnitus) is 80 percent. This does not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus was upheld, as the disability is already at its maximum schedular level under Diagnostic Code 6260. A separate compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was also denied due to lack of penile deformity.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The skin disability claim is pending and will require further examination and/or evidence to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he is no longer alive.