Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy, status post prostate reduction. The remaining issues are remanded for a Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's glaucoma is related to his in-service eye problems and whether his service-connected left pterygium and right pingueculae caused or aggravated his glaucoma. Additionally, a new VA audiological examination should be provided to assess the current level of severity of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for tinnitus, but denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to a higher evaluation for bilateral hearing loss are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with onset during active duty.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the period from February 19, 1982 to March 7, 2004 due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and cervical arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's shortness of breath is not service-connected due to being attributable to cigarette smoking. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, fungal foot infection, and skin spots are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and failure to consider lay statements of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 40% from January 29, 2010 through August 3, 2011. From August 4, 2011 to January 22, 2012, the Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 90%. Since then, it has been rated at 10%.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The VA examinations and audiometric results do not show any level of impairment that would warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining private treatment records and providing VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their clinical onset in service or are otherwise related to active duty. As a result, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was present prior to his military service and did not worsen during his active duty. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss requires further development before being decided on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment at the time of his death, thus denying entitlement to TDIU for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran does not have service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, gastrointestinal disorder, or low back disorder as his claims are denied.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are not related to active military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation beyond 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification of private audiometric reports and a new VA examination.