Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his service in Vietnam working in artillery, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a Decision Review Officer (DRO) hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes due to bilateral hearing loss, and thus denied service connection for this condition.,Service connection was also denied for tinnitus as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current tinnitus and his military service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active military service, and he has a current lung condition that is presumed to be due to exposure to chlorine gas during training. The Veteran's broken right foot does not have evidence of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling an audiological examination to determine the current nature and severity of his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of his request to reopen a claim for service connection for a wrenched left knee. The denial was based on lack of evidence showing a nexus between current left knee disorder and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and its incurrence or aggravation during such service may not be presumed. The evidence does not support a finding of noise exposure related to service, as his hearing was normal at all times during service and upon separation from service.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from June 1, 2013 is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's Rating Schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA service connection purposes and thus, denied his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has decided that the VA audiology examination is inadequate and requires a new opinion on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions remain pending.

The case is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and conducting VA examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral strain, right knee disability, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim. The decision also found that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The VA examiner opined that the current hearing loss was less likely than not related to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms within one year post-service. The current disabilities are more likely due to natural aging (presbycusis).