Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA examination to determine if his chronic headache disorder and bilateral hearing loss are related to service. The Veteran was also provided with additional records from the Alabama Department of Corrections.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of tinnitus or bilateral hearing loss disability due to service. The April 2008 VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's tinnitus was not caused by his military service, and there is no contrary medical opinion in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected shrapnel wound of the left leg with residual scars is rated at 10 percent, effective from November 2007. The Veteran does not have a current disability of left ear hearing loss and has not been diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear.

The Veteran's hearing loss is manifested by no more than level II in the left ear and no more than level II in the right ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, but have been granted as direct service connection based on evidence of record.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating, as it was manifested by no worse than Level VII hearing impairment.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not shown to have had onset during service, and is unrelated to noise exposure in service. The claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims due to incomplete information in the prior VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide an opinion regarding the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his service-connected hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the Los Angeles RO. The issues of rating for tinnitus, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and reopening service connection claim for gallstones are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and hearing loss are service-connected, with no disputes regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and examining him for his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service. No rating or effective date is assigned as this case was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left eye trauma with mydriasis are denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus can be adjudicated.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, including noise exposure during active duty. The VA examiner concluded that the disabilities did not start until many years after service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder coracoacromial ligament strain, finding that his current condition is as likely as not attributable to his active military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of an audiometric examination.