Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and a VA audiological examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable since February 7, 2008. The September 2008 and January 2013 audiometric evaluations showed Level I hearing acuity in both ears, which corresponds to the current noncompensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus related to service, including exposure to cold and noise. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions are etiologically related to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's tinnitus is caused by his service-connected hearing loss in the left ear, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic cough were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities meeting the criteria for VA compensation purposes. The Board found that any complaints or diagnoses regarding these conditions during service did not meet the requirements for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature of the appellant's disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for loss of vision of the left eye and bilateral hearing loss disability, but further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with Level VII in the right ear and Level I in the left ear. The Board finds that his claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation has not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not have onset in service and was not caused by or related to his active military service. The right ear hearing loss is found to be at least in part due to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service. The claim for residuals of asbestos exposure was not addressed due to lack of a diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically noise exposure. As a result, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus related to his military service and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus began during or resulted from service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence to support a finding of continuous symptomatology. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, as secondary to his service-connected left ear hearing loss, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion and proper VCAA notice.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was preexisting and did not worsen during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete service records and need for a supplemental opinion regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus.