Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and depression and adjustment disorder have been reopened, and he is granted a rating of 10 percent for mechanical low back pain. His right index finger fracture residuals are rated as compensable, and his foreign body in the left foot has also been rated as compensable.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is now granted. His current hearing loss disability is related to his military service, as evidenced by in-service audiograms and his military occupational specialty that had a high probability of noise exposure.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his active duty service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Meniere's disease with right ear hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence that she filed a formal or informal claim prior to December 2007, which is when her increased rating claim for hearing loss was received. The earliest possible effective date would be December 13, 2006, but the RO assigned February 26, 2007 as it was within one year of that date and indicated in a private treatment record that she had lost essentially all her hearing from the right ear due to Meniere's disease.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current tinnitus developed as a result of his active service. Service connection for this disability is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA audiological evaluations and addressing the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are supported by competent medical evidence, and his testimony regarding in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms since service is credible. Therefore, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's postoperative prostate cancer is rated at 10 percent prior to May 3, 2011; 40 percent from May 3, 2011 to January 17, 2012; and 20 percent from January 17, 2012. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to report for VA examinations and lack of transportation options. The claim will be reconsidered after scheduling a new examination.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both considered to have onset during service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to establish chronicity or continuity of care. The VA examiners concluded that the current disabilities were more likely caused by occupational and recreational noise exposure in civilian life.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss for compensation purposes and his right ear sensorineural hearing loss is not causally related to service or noise exposure therein. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their clinical onset in service, nor are they otherwise related to active duty. The VA examinations conducted found no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss or tinnitus and military service.

The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was found to be aggravated by his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service due to noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate consideration of his service connection contentions, including an in-service noise exposure incident. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as the private treatment records have not been obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the claimant.