Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from his VA treatment history.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for the issues related to scars on the head, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, melanoma and dental condition.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he attributes to noise exposure during his naval service. The case has been remanded due to the need for a VA audiology examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient discussion of evidence and need for additional development regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral foot disability, and low back disability. The evidence did not show current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Education file, recent VA clinical records, and a VA psychiatric examination. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically addressing the significance of puretone threshold shifts between reference and separation audiograms. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, dizziness, kidney disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction, are not sufficiently disabling to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment given his prior vocational attainment, work history, and level of education.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not result from his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating, and his claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active military service.

The Board vacated its November 2012 decision due to the Veteran's death and dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as there is objective evidence indicating some worsening since the last examination in April 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus cannot establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service exposure to noise trauma, and thus grants service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board videoconference hearing at the RO. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and dysthymic disorder are both currently in a 'unknown' status as they have not been adjudicated.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and likely etiology of any hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, as the original opinion was inadequate for rating purposes. The Veteran's service treatment records show some suggestion of hearing abnormality in lower and at higher frequencies.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and liver disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disorder is found to be related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found no competent or credible evidence linking the Veteran's right ear hearing loss to his military service, including a finding of manifestations within one year following discharge.