Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities were not incurred in or related to his military service, including due to noise exposure. The VA examiner concluded it was less likely than not that these conditions are linked to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by no worse than Level I hearing in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The appeal for an initial compensable rating for this condition has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and left leg deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were granted increased ratings. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, cervical spine disability, sinusitis, right knee disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to assess his hearing loss, thyroid cancer, and hypertension.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence regarding his specific learning disability and its impact on employment, as well as an assessment of the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been received since the August 2006 rating decision.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for tinnitus and the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board found the evidence against a finding of service connection.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service due to exposure to loud noises. The decision is based on presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and there is no evidence of perforated tympanic membrane or its residuals. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for further development of evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings and service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, hearing loss, rotator cuff disability of the right shoulder with bone spur, post-operative cervical strain with spinal stenosis, allergic rhinitis, skin disability manifested by urticarial wheals, and loss of tooth No. 19.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding whether preexisting right ear hearing loss was aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not incur these conditions in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a relationship between his current conditions and his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by his military service, and granted service connection for this condition. The tinnitus claim is also granted as it is related to noise exposure during service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of evidence showing a service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially to his death.,The appellant's claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Title 38, Chapter 35 was also denied as she did not meet the eligibility requirements.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected conditions did not warrant a higher rating or additional service connection. The scar of the left parietal area of the scalp, while present, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a personal hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.