Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, through his authorized representative.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to his military service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his service and may not be presumed to have been. The claims for a respiratory disorder including COPD as a residual of exposure to asbestos, and obstructive sleep apnea were also denied.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his active duty service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The remaining issues of bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and left hip disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a private audiometric examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current left shoulder disability is found to be related to his in-service fracture.,Service connection was granted for the Veteran's post-fracture osteoarthrosis of the left glenohumeral and AC joint as secondary to a service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is due to noise exposure during service and grants service connection. The claim for a heart disorder, heat stroke residuals, and restless leg syndrome are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or their onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are related to his service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA audiological examination and ensuring all relevant records are reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing onset in service, within one year after separation from service, or causation related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No decisions were made on any of the individual claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable as he can still work in a CPA firm, despite the impact of his disabilities on communication.

The Board has determined that a 20 percent disability rating is warranted for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss beginning on October 17, 2012. The preponderance of evidence shows that his hearing loss disability does not approximate higher ratings prior to October 17, 2012 or after that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a disability.

The Veteran's current tinnitus was incurred in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for rescheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO due to the Veteran's inability to attend the previously scheduled hearing.