Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely attributable to his military service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as the VA has not received audiogram results.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, with the exception of intermittent tinnitus reported since service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have continuous hearing loss or tinnitus during service and that his current conditions are more likely due to post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess his current level of disability related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the left hip, and plantar fasciitis with heel spur of the left foot.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 20 percent rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective September 1, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The right knee and left knee disabilities were granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to noise during active duty in Southwest Asia. Service connection was not established for the thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability is etiologically related to noise exposure in active military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been evaluated based on the criteria for these conditions, with no additional evaluations granted. The maximum schedular rating of 10% has been assigned for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lower extremity cold injury residuals and bilateral hearing loss, resulted in a combined disability rating of 40 percent effective February 28, 2006. The Veteran filed an informal claim for increased compensation based on unemployability (TDIU) on October 17, 2007, which was granted with an effective date of November 21, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service. The claim will be re-adjudicated after this examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA audiological opinion and scheduling the Veteran for an examination to determine the current nature and likely etiology of any left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty service, with no evidence of noise exposure following discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right ankle disorder, chronic groin disability, or chronic respiratory disability. The hearing loss claim is also denied as there was no evidence of hearing loss during service and it did not meet VA's criteria for a disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder is addressed in the REMAND portion and is REMANDED.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to her military service and granted her claim for service connection. The exact nature of her bilateral hearing loss remains unclear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a heart disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal seeking service connection for erectile dysfunction is held in abeyance.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and denied his claims.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since April 4, 2008. The VA determined that the severity of his hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.