Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has reopened service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the Veteran provided new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims. The claim is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a separate compensable rating for hypertension. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have resulted from in-service acoustic trauma, while his hypertension is not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VCAA notice.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled hearing. He has requested that the hearing be rescheduled.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure. The claims for low back disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an additional VA audiology examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus need further examination and evaluation. The case is being remanded to provide these services.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis, a respiratory disorder (including exposure to asbestos and herbicides), and an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD with secondary depressive disorder. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that an initial compensable evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during his active service, and the Board has determined that these conditions are related to exposure to loud noises in service. The appeal is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiologic examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent, effective from January 14, 2010. The Board finds that the criteria for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and MJD were decided separately. Bilateral hearing loss was denied, while MJD was granted based on direct service connection.

The Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, and therefore his claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence that he was unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to May 22, 2006.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's hearing loss is alleged to be related to in-service noise exposure, but further examination is needed to determine if this claim should proceed.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest during active service or within one year of separation, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a relationship between current hearing loss and in-service hazardous noise exposure. Service connection for this condition is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is incurred in, due to or aggravated by service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.