Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues, including a request for a rating adjustment for lumbosacral strain and the reopening of her claim for bilateral hearing loss disability. She also seeks service connection for various conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, alopecia, folliculitis, and tinea pedis. The case is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was withdrawn, and the issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination. The appellant is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he contends are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and residuals of a scalp laceration are still pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a clarifying medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as it is not possible to provide an opinion without pure tone threshold tests at separation from service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is granted as the evidence supports a finding that his current hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA audiological examination and updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is attributable to service, including noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is likely due to noise exposure during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have developed as a result of noise exposure during his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted effective May 13, 1948 due to new evidence submitted after the September 1949 rating decision. The original December 1945 and July 1947 decisions denying service connection were not properly notified to the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and failure to provide a clear rationale for opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the Board finds that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the merits of this issue material to the determination, thus applying the benefit of the doubt rule in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his military service, specifically his noise exposure during active duty. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Naval Reserve and Department of Transportation records or explaining why such records should not be requested. A new VA audiological examination may also be required.