Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal regarding the issue of an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing this claim as a result.

The Board has determined that a new VA audiological examination is necessary to properly assess the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as the previous opinions are inadequate.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss was not present during active service, did not manifest within one year of discharge from service, and did not develop as a result of any incident during service. Therefore, the Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not shown to be related to his active service, including exposure to loud noises during combat. The evidence did not demonstrate chronic symptoms of hearing loss during service or continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and updating treatment records from VA facilities. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and denied his claims for increased evaluations for myositis of the right temporomandibular area and TDIU.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his TDIU award, which was granted on January 24, 1999. The Board found that the evidence did not support a retroactive award of extraschedular benefits prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's skin disorder and hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for residuals, left shoulder disability with scar and residual scarring of left upper lobe of lung, status post radiation therapy were denied. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.

The case is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining copies of the Veteran's treatment records and scheduling a VA audiometric examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to address the issues of service connection and hearing loss evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, including on an extra-schedular basis, due to the need for further development and consideration of his increased rating claim for service-connected lumbar spine disability. The VA will also consider whether he is eligible for a schedular TDIU based on his combined disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities' impact on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims for service connection can be decided.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss. The claim for an initial, compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and the request to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there was no evidence linking his current condition to in-service noise exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and her symptoms have persisted since service. The Board finds that the current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service acoustic trauma, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion and additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no diagnosed disability. The status of the claims for tinnitus, hypertension, right shoulder disability, and left collarbone disability are pending.