Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate medical examination and opinion regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss did not become manifest during service or to a compensable degree within one year after discharge from service and is not etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to conflicting medical opinions and insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed injury in service. The Veteran is also granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for increases in the ratings assigned for his bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the current staged ratings are consistent with and supported by the audiometry results reported.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms post-service. The current disabilities are not considered to be related to military service.

The Board denied an increased compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss on a schedular basis, finding that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The evidence does not show a chronic disability during service or within one year of separation, and there is no medical opinion linking these conditions to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on VA audiometric testing results.

The Veteran's claim seeking a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied because he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in June 2014.

The Board has remanded this case for further development, including obtaining the Veteran's active duty service records and requesting an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was previously denied in March 1995. New evidence submitted since that decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for myocardial infarction is denied as there is no medical evidence of record showing he had a myocardial infarction during or after military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss is denied as there is no medical evidence of record showing he has memory loss disorder.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for status post cerebral vascular accident (CVA or stroke) is denied as the earliest documented CVA occurred more than 30 years after separation from military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no medical evidence of record showing he has these conditions.,There is no indication that any of the claimed disabilities were incurred in or related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Her claims for service connection for a low back disability, peroneal tendon subluxation, and residuals of right ankle joint pain are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining private records for the Veteran's hearing loss and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his hypertension and back/neck disorders are related to service. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease was reopened and granted. His claim for left ear hearing loss was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate examination, incomplete medical records, and the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of right second metacarpal fracture, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and impotence are denied. The Veteran is service-connected for a chronic low back disorder and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.