Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and the evidence does not support a finding that they are related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The VA examinations and audiometric tests have consistently shown a level III hearing impairment, which does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 21, 2012, and a rating in excess of 10 percent since that date was denied. The evidence did not show the disability warranted a compensable or greater rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with the average puretone threshold in both ears being below 41 decibels at frequencies from 500 to 4000 Hertz.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability had its onset during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an audiological examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a supplemental opinion from an audiologist regarding whether tinnitus is related to service or secondary to hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA audiological examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and entitlement to a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss are pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for additional examinations and development of his service-connected disabilities, including the effects on his employment. The RO must also adjudicate any increased rating claims related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran does not have prostate cancer that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be normal for VA benefit purposes with word discrimination scores above 90%.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and requests for additional examination reports.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is attributable to acoustic noise trauma during his active military service, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations. The claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin condition will be adjudicated again based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, as he had been receiving a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for over ten years prior to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his current auditory acuity levels do not warrant a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, joint pain, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's claim for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination for both right and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, including inservice noise exposure. The claims for service connection have been denied.