Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's initial claim for service-connected left ear hearing loss was denied, and his claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss since April 20, 2009, was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant an initial compensable evaluation for the left ear prior to April 20, 2009, or any disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his bilateral hearing loss thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic cardiovascular disability, initial compensable evaluations for residuals of right ankle sprain and right ingrown toenail, and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for residuals of torn right hamstring. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to additional development needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further proceedings due to inadequate medical evidence regarding the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 6, 2012 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the need for a VA audiological examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, Lumbar Spine Disorder, hearing loss in his left ear, and CAD. The Veteran's service-connected conditions were found to be adequately addressed by the current schedular evaluations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and the Board finds that he has a current disability of tinnitus. The Veteran also testified about hearing loss in 1992, but VA treatment records from this period are missing. Therefore, additional development including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for PTSD is needed before deciding these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to noise exposure during his military service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation as his auditory thresholds and speech discrimination results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's asthma is found to have had its onset during her active duty, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service exposure to loud noise. The initial disability rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability is related to his active service, while his bilateral hearing loss disability is not.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and further development is required.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's recurrent tinnitus was found to be incurred in active service. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected hearing loss was dismissed due to the death of the claimant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining audiometric test results from specific VA audiological evaluations. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability is pending.