Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further examination and consideration due to incomplete records and the need for an opinion regarding his employability.

The Veteran's claims for traumatic brain injury, bilateral hearing loss, and Meniere's syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The issues of service connection for traumatic brain injury and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be deferred until the remand is completed.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus began in active service and granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes since he filed his claim in July 2011, so service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss is at least in equipoise with his in-service noise exposure and subsequent diagnoses. The claim for tinnitus remains pending as a separate issue.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted such a rating. The issue of service connection for claimed depression is being remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to noise exposure during his military service, and the claims for these conditions are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated during active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation, and there is no evidence of chronic symptoms in service or continuity of symptomatology since service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a vocational examination and re-adjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains unchanged as his audiometric results do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on his combined rating of 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and is requesting further action before making a decision on the service connection for respiratory disorder and the initial rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for most of his daily personal needs or to protect himself from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment without the assistance of others, warranting special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss in his right ear for VA purposes and denied service connection for tinnitus as there is no medical evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, effective January 8, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran's most severe hearing loss was demonstrated at a June 2014 VA examination.