Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss began during his military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to noise exposure during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and hypertension, both claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for proper notice letters, updated VA treatment records, and puretone audiometric test results.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic ear infection or hearing loss in service, and the Veteran's current assertions are not supported by medical evidence. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and left eye disability are not related to service. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and his right ear hearing loss is not shown to be related to service or noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability during the pendency of his claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to questions regarding the exact nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed hearing loss and tinnitus, including potential exposure to noise during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to noise exposure during active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now receiving a 20% rating since May 21, 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there was no evidence of such during service or within one year post-service. The VA examiner opined that the disabilities are more likely related to civilian noise exposure than military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is more likely than not caused by his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The VA examiner opined that the disorders are less likely as not caused by noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a clarifying opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus. The missing toe nail claim will be remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied it. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the disorder. The Veteran also does not meet the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, as his impairment is primarily caused by non-service connected knee issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new opinion on etiology. The current evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service and granted service connection. The hearing loss claim is pending due to the need for additional development.