Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and rhinitis/sinusitis are granted, as his conditions were first shown during active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is caused by his service-connected left ear hearing loss, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent since April 8, 2008. The Board denied a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a peripheral vestibular disorder (claimed as loss of balance and motion sickness), including as secondary to left tympanic membrane perforation.

The Veteran did not have a left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes at the time of his November 2009 claim and has not had one since.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a higher initial rating during the appeal period, as his hearing impairment was consistently rated at zero percent (noncompensable).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The gastrointestinal disorder claim is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The remaining claims are remanded due to further development being required.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and other service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for new examinations.

The Veteran's recurrent headaches, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are all service-connected. The Veteran is currently rated at 10% for his recurrent headaches.

The Board found that left ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. However, his claims for right ear hearing loss and lung disability are denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, clarifying the use of the Maryland CNC test in a previous audiometric evaluation, scheduling a VA examination, and obtaining clarification on the Veteran's hearing loss complaints.