Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating. The Board finds that his current disability picture does not warrant an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a sleep disorder and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, with the VA examiner initially finding a less likely than not relationship. However, a private audiologist concluded that the current conditions are as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss in the left ear is being remanded due to incomplete records and new evidence. The SSA records are requested, as they may be relevant to his disability benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as he indicated it had worsened since his last VA examination. The private audiometric results from September 2009 are also to be interpreted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the right ear hearing loss being granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are related to service.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current level of bilateral hearing loss will be evaluated in a future VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current medical diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for the cause of death and whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. The appellant is seeking VA burial benefits, which are inextricably intertwined with these claims.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hearing loss was denied, and the Board found that his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) did not meet the criteria for a separate disability evaluation. The lung condition and kidney disease claims were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal regarding service connection for malaria. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and service. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service noise exposure are credible, and his symptoms of tinnitus were present within one year of separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and radiculopathy of the bilateral arms and shoulders, finding no current disability meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss disability or upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss in either ear as defined by VA standards, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's hearing impairment has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no evidence of exceptional patterns or other factors warranting a higher evaluation.