Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examination opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left elbow disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with a pure tone average of 43.75 dB and speech recognition score of 32 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service. The heart condition is not found to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between current symptoms and military service. The VA audiologist concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were more likely due to presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) and post-service occupational and recreational noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and a back disability, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling him for examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and PTSD, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The effective dates for these grants are January 22, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a nasal condition were denied as there is no current disability found at any time during the pendency of his claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for scarring on the lungs and purified protein derivative conversion status post prophylactic treatment with inhalation have been withdrawn. The Veteran has current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of in-service noise exposure, which are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities originated during his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service, including exposure to loud radio noise. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hearing loss in her right ear is granted based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his period of service, including any in-service noise exposure.,The VA examiner concluded that there was no evidence of acoustic trauma shown in the service treatment records that would cause the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, anxiety disorder, depression, lung disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, glomus tumors and other skin lesions, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as his combined disability rating is less than 60% prior to May 1, 2014, and does not exceed 40% after that date.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable evaluation is not warranted based on the current evidence of record.