Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The right ankle disability and left hip, leg, and foot disabilities claims remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his period of honorable active service, including no competent evidence of a nexus to such service. As a result, the claim for service connection on a direct basis is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a current examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not due to any disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military duty. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on both issues, and the Board has dismissed them without prejudice.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are at least as likely as not related to his active service, including an in-service ear injury during a flight. The issues of service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The appellant's appeal of the denial for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus has been withdrawn, resulting in a dismissal of these issues.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is evaluated as noncompensable under the applicable rating criteria, and his disability does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service, and denied both claims. The skin condition claim was remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development due to the inadequacy of previous audiometric examinations. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, nor are they related to his military service.,The Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD. His depressive disorder is not shown by any competent medical evidence to be related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the latter being secondary to the former.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated his bilateral hearing loss, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion. The issue remains on appeal as it pertains to a direct relationship between his service-connected scarred tympanic membrane and his current bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals were rated at 60 percent prior to August 23, 2007. The RO granted a TDIU rating effective from that date.,The Veteran was found eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code, as of August 23, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for some issues and denied or not addressed for others. The skin disorder claim was reopened, tension headaches were service connected, the eye injury residuals issue was withdrawn by the Veteran, TBI residuals are not service connected, right lumbar radiculopathy is service connected, and the neck scar disability has a 50% rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, as there was no significant puretone threshold shift from entrance to separation audiometry and the Veteran did not report having a hearing loss disability during or shortly after service.