Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the accuracy of the audiometric testing and to obtain an updated opinion regarding the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and tinea pedis. The AOJ will arrange for a medical examination to determine if any current skin disorders are related to service, including those diagnosed during active duty. Additionally, an opinion from the examiner who provided the July 2011 VA audiology examination will be sought regarding whether hearing loss and/or tinnitus are of service onset or otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated and found to be manifested by average pure tone thresholds at 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 hertz of 44 decibels in the right ear and 68 decibels in the left ear. The Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is manifested by exceptional patterns of hearing impairment, but no higher than Level VIII hearing acuity in the right ear and Level X hearing acuity in the left ear. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for hearing loss have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new examination to address the Veteran's exposure to acoustic trauma during service and his assertions of hearing loss beginning in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues are related to his bilateral hearing loss and heart disease, with the latter potentially linked to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not related to his active service, including exposure to combat noises in Vietnam. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his/her authorized representative before a decision was made.

The Board finds that the cause of the Veteran's death is not related to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cold injury residuals of the feet and hands, as well as tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability of hearing loss or tinnitus related to his active service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the current status of the Veteran's back disability and whether it is related to service. The claims for hearing loss and impaired balance are also being remanded.

The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating for arthritis of the left hand, effective May 27, 2008.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had its onset in service and is related to his exposure to traumatic noise, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service, and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss disabilities are found to be related to his period of active service.,The Veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss disability was aggravated by his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a supplemental VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss disability had its onset during his period of service or is etiologically related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for a comprehensive examination to assess his ability to work given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran has current left ear hearing loss disability that is the result of exposure to hazardous noise during his period of active service, and this condition is granted as service connected.