Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss is alleged to have contributed to his death from bladder cancer. The VA has not obtained all necessary records and needs to provide a new opinion on whether the hearing loss played a material causal role in the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board video conference hearing.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be related to his military service. The Board granted service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have originated during service and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of left ulnar neuropathy will be remanded as it was not fully adjudicated in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's back disorder is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the VA audiological evaluations did not support a link to service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are attributed to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 17, 2009, for the resumption of payment of disability compensation following a period of active duty is denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a formal or informal claim to reinstate his benefits prior to 2010 and thus the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claim.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are caused by noise exposure during active military service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service. The VA examiner found no link between current hearing loss and active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and bilateral foot disorder are not related to her military service, including ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA. The claims were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and her service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his active duty service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not worsen during service and is therefore not service-connected. The left ear hearing loss was noted upon entrance but improved by separation, so it is also not service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder and denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current level of hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's schedular guidelines.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examiner's opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service. The claim is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher initial rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus, headaches, and vertigo/dizziness. The VA has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for tinnitus, headaches, and vertigo/dizziness. The case is pending as the Veteran recently claimed service connection for vertigo/dizziness as secondary to his service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist to address the significance of the improved results at separation audiometry testing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected and rated as noncompensable. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not warrant a higher rating prior to April 24, 2014 but granted an increased rating of 20% thereafter. The Veteran's scar was also found to be noncompensable prior to April 24, 2014 and granted a compensable rating after that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is currently manifested by audiometric test results corresponding to a numeric designation of Level III, bilaterally. The criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met.