Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the appeal due to a lack of evidence and requests for a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are still pending.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely the result of noise exposure during his military service, and the Board finds that this evidence supports a grant of service connection for his disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service, and the Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and thus service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant's request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new audiological examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after separation. The VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which was previously denied in December 2005.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his shrapnel wound to right buttock or postoperative abdominal scar, and there was insufficient evidence of a current lung disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to his military service, and thus grants the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be causally related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss requires additional development as the VA treatment records have not been obtained and there are discrepancies regarding post-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and for consideration of whether referral for an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and PTSD. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma during his active duty in Vietnam, which likely contributed to his current hearing loss.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran and granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently manifested by no more than level II hearing impairment in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable (zero percent) disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and left upper extremity neurological disability. The appeals were dismissed due to lack of merit.

The Board found that the Veteran's death from lung cancer and COPD was not caused by or a result of his service-connected disabilities, nor were they attributable to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and assigned a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the lumbar spine. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete documentation and information, as well as the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and a sleep disorder are pending.