Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax are pending. The claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), tinnitus, right olecranon bursitis, right upper arm scar, and bilateral hearing loss, are insufficient to warrant a TDIU rating. The case is being remanded for additional development of records and an examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and granted it, finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support a link between the Veteran's noise exposure in service and his current bilateral hearing loss. The issue of service connection for Meniere's syndrome was withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. His claims include service connection for Meniere's disease, increased ratings for hearing loss and tinnitus, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective from June 26, 2012. His claims for bilateral hearing loss and TBI residuals were also granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to have had its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. A sensorineural hearing loss was not exhibited within the first post-service year.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and upper extremities, as well as an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, were denied. The appellant did not receive new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in or aggravated by his military service, nor did it show that his hearing loss warranted a compensable rating prior to July 26, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The claim for left ear hearing loss is pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's nasopharyngeal cancer clearly and unmistakably existed before service and was not aggravated by service. The hearing loss is secondary to her non-service-connected nasopharyngeal cancer treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, glaucoma, left ear hearing loss, and myocardial infarction and stroke are all service-connected based on direct evidence of their onset during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development and adjudication of the claim for a TDIU rating, including consideration of VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's employability due to service-connected conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss is more likely due to post-service noise exposure rather than his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus during service, which are now granted for substitution purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss, finding that it is related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic migraine headache, cardiac disability, right ear hearing loss for VA purposes, or tinnitus related to active service. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

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