Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss. The issues on appeal are whether the Veteran is entitled to service connection for hypertension (to include as due to herbicide exposure and as secondary to PTSD) and for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not begin during service and is not related to military noise exposure, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was not aggravated by his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss as defined by VA standards, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from December 28, 2011. The claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability by reason of service-connected disabilities since December 28, 2011 is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not develop during service and is not related to any in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for a sinus disorder and chest pain. The remaining claims are being remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is found to be related to service, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all issues of entitlement to service connection, higher initial ratings for PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, remote right ankle fracture with degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as well as to consider the Veteran's lay assertions and service records. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and therefore, service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board found that the reduction in rating for bilateral hearing loss from 60% to 50% was proper based on evidence showing improvement in the Veteran's hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active military service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found no evidence of a service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service, and the VA examiner's opinion that current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to military noise exposure. The Veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptoms were deemed inconsistent with other evidence.

Service connection has been granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, hearing loss, arthralgia (primarily affecting the back and hands), chronic fatigue, and a pituitary/brain tumor.,PTSD remains without an assigned rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The effective date for awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is set at October 4, 2012.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 6100. However, this rating is not higher than the maximum allowed based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing at enlistment and no significant change in hearing acuity upon separation. The examiner could not provide a definitive opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss due to lack of formal audiometric evaluation at separation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to noise exposure during active service, and grants these claims.