Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his service, considering both in-service noise exposure and post-service occupational noise exposure. The claim for service connection is therefore granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus during his Board hearing on January 17, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left foot disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining SSA records and a new opinion regarding tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by some high frequency hearing impairment, but level I ratings in each ear. The criteria for a compensable evaluation have not been met.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issue of entitlement to nonservice-connected pension remains pending as the Veteran's skin disorder claim is still outstanding.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification of certain evidence and additional examination, including a VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was aggravated during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss, at worst, has been manifested by Level II and Level IV hearing loss in the right and left ears, respectively. The criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot disability and an increased rating for his left knee disability, as well as his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision also granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disorder. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine if she currently has these conditions, and whether they are related to her active duty service.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD. The RO granted the claim with a February 3, 2006 effective date based on his unemployability at that time. However, the Board is remanding the case to consider whether the TDIU should have been granted prior to February 3, 2006.

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

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have not met the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating. However, the Board has remanded the case to obtain an opinion on whether these conditions preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or caused by his active duty service and is not otherwise shown to be related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied. The calculation of his combined disability rating in the November 2009 rating decision was found to be correct.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO, via the AMC, for further action including additional development of the evidence and consideration of a higher rating on an extra-schedular basis.