Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is attributable to his military service. The remaining claims have been withdrawn due to the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, and Meniere's disease were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that would support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or right ankle disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current level of severity of the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as a need for an updated VA examination. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are also pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during his time as an aviation mechanic. However, there is no evidence of left ear hearing loss in service or for many years after service, thus denying service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have resulted from his in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran's appeal of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing test results at enlistment and separation, and no complaints or treatment for these conditions during service. The VA examiner concluded that the disabilities more likely than not resulted from occupational noise exposure post-service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. After review of the evidence, including a private audiologist's opinion, the Board finds that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for initial development and adjudication of his claim regarding CUE in a December 1986 rating decision, which denied service connection for hearing loss. The earlier effective date claims for tinnitus and hearing loss are also being reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the Veteran's current disability is a direct result of military sexual trauma during service. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to new evidence indicating worsening of the condition.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining records from a USPHS hospital and considering new evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an equilibrium disability will be reconsidered with consideration of all available evidence.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided are inadequate, necessitating a remand to obtain another VA examination with a different examiner.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing audiogram results from specific dates. The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to August 31, 2010. From that date onward, the criteria were met.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen during service and there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's combination of service-connected migraine headaches, depressive disorder, PTSD associated with prostate cancer residuals, bilateral hearing loss, left foot injury, and impotence are found to be disabling enough to prevent him from securing or following substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and attempting to obtain service treatment records from the Saigon military hospital. The Veteran is also advised that he may need to provide evidence linking his lumbar spine disability to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric testing did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and an increased rating for hearing loss. The decision did not address the issue of herbicide exposure or grant any new ratings.