Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and seeking medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back disability and hearing loss.

The Board finds that the service-connected residuals of a right lower leg shrapnel wound contributed to the Veteran's death due to a fall and traumatic brain injury, which was found as an underlying cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a current disability. The claims for skin disorder and gastrointestinal disorder are remanded due to incomplete information from the Veteran regarding treatment providers.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, specifically the noise exposure during active duty and an in-service injury. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board finds that the law, as written by Congress and implemented by VA regulation, has been correctly applied in this case. The recoupment of the overpayment of VA compensation in the amount of severance pay received ($32,551.20) by withholding in monthly allotments payments of disability compensation benefits is required by law.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent prior to November 13, 2013 and 40 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period of time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease, hearing loss, and headaches was denied in the February 1995 rating decision. The Board denied service connection for headaches in October 1997. Service connection for bilateral otitis media with perforation of tympanic membrane and tinnitus was granted effective August 1, 1994. The Veteran's claim for Meniere's disease was received on January 23, 2008, after the February 1995 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of tick bites or left ear hearing loss, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss since July 26, 2011 as there were no valid audiometric test results and the Veteran did not have greater than level I hearing loss in either ear.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure. The case is being returned for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication consistent with a Memorandum Decision from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records related to the Veteran's attempt at reenlistment in October 1995 and seeking addendums to medical opinions regarding the current left knee disability and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to his noise exposure during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss disability, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are not related to service or his service-connected TBI. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service. The Veteran's STRs did not show any complaints, symptoms, or diagnoses of hearing loss or tinnitus during service. His separation examination also showed no signs of hearing loss. While he reported having hearing loss in 1991, the examiners found him to have normal hearing at that time.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for hearing loss has been granted, but the RO needs to schedule a VA examination and obtain relevant treatment records in order to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be at Level I, warranting a noncompensable rating. The Board determined that the current schedular criteria adequately capture his disability picture.