Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and his initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus are both REMANDED to the RO/AMC.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA audiological examination and an opinion regarding the relationship between his current bilateral hearing loss disability and his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no current evidence of a disability meeting VA's criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current residuals of a right ear cyst and right ear hearing loss are not related to his military service. The Board found no continuity of symptoms since service, and conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequacies in the VA examination and opinion provided. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is caused by exposure to loud noise during his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, which is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether there was noise exposure during service. The case will be returned for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hearing loss was not shown during service or for many years thereafter, and the evidence does not support a finding that it is related to service. Therefore, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since January 31, 2006. The Board found that the current evidence does not support a higher rating based on the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and any functional effects resulting from it. The Veteran should also be asked to identify any other treatment providers who have provided treatment for his hearing loss since July 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during service, and grants service connection for this condition. For his respiratory disorder claim, further development is needed as a new VA examination is required.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing at discharge and no documented hearing issues until 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case on the issue of an initial compensable disability rating for PTSD and scheduling of a video conference hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently evaluated at 30 percent, reflecting moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning. His hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.