Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an examiner's opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his right ear for VA purposes, and thus cannot be granted service connection. For his left ear hearing loss, the evidence shows that he meets the criteria for a hearing loss disability under VA regulations but does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not related to his in-service noise exposure, as there was no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within one year after separation. The weight of the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent under the schedular criteria, and no higher. The Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted as his current hearing impairment does not meet or approximate the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that a 30 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is warranted, effective from June 2, 2010, through January 11, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for an additional VA examination and consideration of new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional treatment records and schedule a hearing. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains under review.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new medical opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The TDIU claim will also be remanded as multiple appealed claims have not yet been adjudicated.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted prior to June 9, 2010. From June 9, 2010 through September 20, 2012, he received a 10 percent disability rating. Since September 21, 2012, his disability rating has been increased to 20 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, including noise exposure during service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for clarification of audiometric test scores and speech recognition scores from a March 2013 VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his conditions did not have their onset in service or were not caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by active service and is not related to noise exposure during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding causation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was granted and assigned a noncompensable (0%) evaluation from August 23, 1999 to March 20, 2007; a 10% evaluation from March 20, 2007 to May 31, 2007.

The Veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss does not exceed a puretone threshold average of 40 decibels or fall below a Maryland CNC speech discrimination score of 96 percent, and thus warrants a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.