Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records, VA treatment records, and a VA examination for his prostate disorder and hepatitis C.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to have its onset in service or be otherwise related to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to afford the Veteran full consideration of his claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, knee disabilities, and ankle disabilities. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection based on in-service noise exposure. The psychiatric disorder claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, DM, peripheral neuropathies, and ED, render him unemployable due to his physical and mental limitations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to in-service noise exposure, and thus grants the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during service, was not caused by his active service, and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence to decide the claim, and a VA examination is needed to determine if the current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing and to address the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service, including noise exposure. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as the current disability does not meet the criteria for presumptive conditions and there is insufficient medical evidence linking the current condition to service. The VA examiner determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not manifested by a level of hearing acuity necessary for a compensable rating, and therefore the claim for an increased evaluation has been denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has caused occupational limitations that are more severe than those contemplated by the current schedular evaluation, and thus the case is remanded for referral to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is likely due to noise exposure during his military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current cervical spine degenerative disc disease is related to his military service. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for right ear hearing loss remains pending.