Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU and prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing impairment during the entire appeal period no worse than level II in the right ear and level II in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that his disability does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is found to be the result of injury incurred during his service, and thus granted as service connection.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination and opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.,The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service, is not related to a disease or injury of service origin, and may not be presumed to be related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as new and material evidence has been received. The underlying issues of service connection will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service and denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 1, 2007.

The Veteran's renal insufficiency, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are all found to be related to service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or chronic symptoms in service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records, specifically the December 2008 audiological evaluation results from the Birmingham VA Medical Center.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA treatment records, and providing the appellant with a VA audiological examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been present since service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine if he requires the aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that it is related to his military noise exposure. Service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 20 percent since August 1, 2011. Prior to that date, the disability was not compensable.