Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the case can be decided, including obtaining VA treatment records and addressing whether any portion of the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is otherwise etiologically related to in-service noise exposure on a delayed or latent theory of causation.

The Board has determined that tinnitus was incurred in service and is granted as a result of the Veteran's credible testimony regarding symptoms experienced during service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to June 8, 2011 and 10 percent from that date. The Board finds the current ratings are appropriate based on the audiometric findings.

The Veteran does not have a hearing impairment characterized by auditory thresholds in any of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 Hertz (Hz) at 40 decibels or greater, or three of the frequencies at 26 decibels or greater, or Maryland CNC speech discrimination scores at less than 94 percent. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has not reached a decision on whether it is warranted. The Veteran's current hearing loss may be related to noise exposure during service, as indicated by a private audiologist's opinion, although this needs further clarification from the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting a supplemental opinion from the December 2010 audiologist. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the appeal can be decided, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an opinion on whether the appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level II in the right ear and Level IV in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria. The Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on exceptional patterns of hearing impairment.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in active military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his active service, including exposure to loud noise during combat. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the latter being at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including consideration of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no more than Level III hearing in the right ear and no more than Level III hearing in the left ear, resulting in a finding of not meeting the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by auditory acuity levels from I to III in both ears, which do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be causally related to his military service, and the Board finds that he currently has a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss. The Veteran also had a history of tinnitus in service, but there is no current diagnosis or competent medical evidence linking this condition to service.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain any form of substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities: coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and degenerative disk and joint disease of the lumbar spine. The Board finds that he meets the threshold requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence and issues related to service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his in-service acoustic trauma and granted service connection for this disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and thus denied his claim for service connection.