Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD as a result of combat stressors in Vietnam. The claim for peripheral neuropathy is reopened, and the Veteran's claim for service connection remains pending.

The Board has found that further development is needed, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss will be remanded to allow for this additional development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted. The other claims of service connection are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them during his hearing.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as incurred in service. The issues of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service records and VA treatment records, as well as obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran will also be provided with a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding his increased rating claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of May 19, 2008. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date provided by law is May 19, 2008, and denied a request for an earlier effective date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and calluses of the left foot. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including an opinion regarding whether his right ear hearing loss increased during service and if so, whether such worsening was due to natural progression.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure and denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The earliest diagnosis of these conditions was 65 years after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as they are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for clarifying medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back disorder have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions and established continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating at any point.

The Board found that the Veteran has left ear hearing loss related to service, but not right ear hearing loss. The eye disability claim was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to noise during active duty. The evidence is at least in equipoise on whether there was an intercurrent cause of the hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's discharge from his period of service from August 1981 to September 1983 was due to willful and persistent misconduct, which bars benefits based on this period of service. The claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for the other conditions are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.