Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the etiology of his current hearing loss disability, which may be related to in-service injuries. The Veteran will also be provided an opportunity to submit lay statements and additional evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not related to his military service, and he has been granted a non-compensable disability rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to service, but further examination is needed for OSA, hypertension, ED, and GERD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not due to in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that there was no evidence of hearing loss at the time of separation from service and that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a diagnosed disability for which service connection can be granted, including bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder condition, chest, cough and lung condition, or radicular pain of the left posterior hip. As such, the claims are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has experienced tinnitus since service and that it is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and throat cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has found service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for sinusitis. The claim for a bilateral knee condition requires further development.

The Veteran's hearing loss of the right ear is found to be related to his military service, specifically exposure to loud noise during his time as a jet engine mechanic in the Marine Corps.,While the Veteran has reported pruritus (itching) of both ears since 1995, there is no evidence linking this condition to his military service. The examiner noted that it was not possible to determine if the acoustic neuroma caused by his right ear hearing loss contributed to the pruritus.

The Board denied an increased (compensable) disability rating for right-ear hearing loss with right-ear otitis externa and a TDIU due to lack of evidence supporting the requested ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to noise exposure during his active duty service, granting the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private audiologist records and arranging for a VA audiology examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not attributable to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a numerical interpretation of the March 2011 audiogram graph and determining whether speech recognition testing was completed using the Maryland CNC word list. The TDIU claim will also be adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service and his right ear hearing loss was aggravated by service. The claim for PTSD is granted, with a current evaluation of 30 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and there is no evidence to support service connection for this condition. The preponderance of the evidence supports denial.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss since August 11, 2006. The Veteran's hearing impairment is currently rated as Level XI in the right ear and Level I in the left ear.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left foot heel spurs, and right foot heel spurs are all denied as service connection is not granted due to lack of evidence linking the current conditions to service.