Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cold injury residuals of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unemployable due to his physical limitations.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with Level I hearing in both ears. The Board finds that the criteria are not met for a compensable initial rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be directly related to his military service, specifically the noise exposure during combat operations. The claim for service connection is granted.

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.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims for increased hearing loss rating and service connection for kidney cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records and requests for authorization of private medical records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his conditions were found to be service-connected and not warranting an increased rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service, specifically to his in-service noise exposure during combat operations. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to issues involving the reopening of a claim for right ear hearing loss and an effective date for left ear hearing loss. The case must be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin disorder of the arms, hands, and face due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran is requested to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. Therefore, these conditions have been granted as secondary to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have originated during his active service, with the Board finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The VA has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and a need for further opinion regarding whether his hearing loss is related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to noise exposure during his active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during active service, were not caused by an event, injury, or disease in active service, and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is more likely than not related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations is being remanded due to the need for clarification of a private audiogram report. The issue remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider the etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disability claims.