Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion from a VA TDIU examiner. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are considered in determining whether they make him unemployable.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred during service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or symptoms. The claims are denied.

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 a hearing disability in service or within the presumptive period. The VA examiner found no causal relationship between the Veteran's military noise exposure and his current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the link between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and active service. The Veteran should be provided with a new audiometric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability determination records. A VA examination will be conducted to determine the etiology of any hearing loss, tinnitus, and head injury residuals.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability, with puretone thresholds of 54-60 dB in both ears and speech recognition scores of 96-100 percent, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The noncompensable rating assigned is therefore maintained.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of entitlement to higher ratings for PTSD and the lumbar spine disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Regional Office.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure. The VA examiners concluded that his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely related to his military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he attributes to in-service exposure to loud noise from aircraft-launching catapults. The case is being remanded due to the need for a new audiological evaluation.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection for these conditions. The pterygium of the right eye is not associated with service connection as it was not determined if the condition began during military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability in either ear is not shown, and the claim for this condition is denied.,Tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of onset during service or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hemorrhoids and bilateral hearing loss are related to service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen them. The August 2009 rating decision is final.

The Veteran's left foot pes planus was found to have its origin in service, and he is now entitled to service connection.,There is no current hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria, so service connection cannot be established.,No current right knee disability has been demonstrated, thus service connection for a right knee disability cannot be granted.,The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is currently evaluated at 20 percent based on limitation of motion to flexion less than 60 degrees but not less than 40 degrees.,Hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable, with diastolic pressures below 100 and systolic pressures below 160.,Cluster headaches are currently evaluated at noncompensable, occurring less frequently than once every two months.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner will need to provide opinions regarding whether these conditions are at least as likely due to noise exposure in service or some other cause.