Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed left eye condition or current left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's service connection claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated income information and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a Travel Board Hearing scheduled on January 13, 2014. He was notified of the hearing at an incorrect address.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his exposure history.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied as she does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for arthritis of lumbar spine, claimed as secondary to service connected residuals of a fractured coccyx, is also denied. The Board finds that her current condition is less likely related to her in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard service and outstanding relevant medical records. The claims will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded this matter for a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the reopening of his claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine will be addressed at the earliest available opportunity.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disability and his military service. The Veteran did not experience significant shifts in hearing thresholds during service, and his post-service noise exposure was minimal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, rash/skin disorder, bilateral eye/vision disorder, and residuals of strep throat. The evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection in any of these cases.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD is found to have contributed substantially and materially to his death from acute pulmonary edema.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent since June 19, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C is considered 'unknown' as it does not involve a determination of service connection. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requests for additional evidence, including an addendum report from a VA physician who examined the Veteran in December 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not manifest during active service or within one year post-service, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner opined that the current bilateral hearing loss disability is less likely than not related to his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent prior to August 1, 2008 and is currently rated at 0 percent from August 1, 2008 to April 22, 2013. The claim for an increased rating remains on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to January 3, 2011, and a higher than 10 percent rating as of January 3, 2011, for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board or videoconference hearing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for another VA audiological examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss are all service-connected. Tinnitus was found to be incurred in active service. Right ear hearing loss is considered aggravated by active service. Left ear hearing loss is not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during active service.