Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as to provide proper VCAA notice regarding the secondary aspect of his claim for service connection for tinnitus. Additionally, all outstanding treatment records from the Nashville VA Medical Center dated from October 2010 to the present should be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted. The claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss were reopened based on new evidence submitted since the previous decisions.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding treatment records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, adenocarcinoma (lobectomy), tinnitus, and a surgical scar from his thoracotomy, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions alone preclude employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a clarifying medical opinion and to associate Social Security Administration records with the claims file.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess his PTSD symptoms and employability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 18, 2012 has been granted and he is now receiving a 10 percent rating effective from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, with unstable blood sugar, and hypertension. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and he meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.,While his PTSD does not meet the criteria for extraschedular consideration, he has been granted a TDIU based on his combined rating of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for a rating decision. The Veteran's hearing loss needs further evaluation and clarification of previous examination reports.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss in the left ear increased during service, and granted service connection for this condition. The effective date of tinnitus was set at January 22, 2008. There is no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 1996 rating decision regarding low back strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or a continuity of symptoms after service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

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