Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU has been granted due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities, which meet the schedular threshold requirement.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted this claim on the merits, finding that there is a current disability (bilateral hearing loss), an in-service noise exposure, and a link between the current condition and service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is an approximate balance of evidence in regard to these conditions. The Veteran was exposed to noise during his active duty service, which he reported resulted in hearing problems since separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability, right knee disability, or tooth and jaw disability for VA purposes. As such, his claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, including the propriety of reducing his disability rating from 10 percent to noncompensable effective September 1, 2011, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service-connected due to exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam-era service. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses for PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, and COPD, which may be related to his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's case is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing, and he has provided good cause for missing the hearing. The Board will schedule him for a new hearing at the appropriate RO facility.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain a clarifying opinion regarding the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal of the rating reduction from 40 percent to 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss, effective March 1, 2013, was withdrawn by the appellant prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision found no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a diagnosis of hearing loss until after separation, and concluded that current hearing loss is not related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to exposure to acoustic trauma during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or to a compensable degree within one year after his service discharge, and there was no continuity of symptomatology. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete examination report and lack of consideration of certain evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left-ear hearing loss was aggravated by her in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable since January 1, 2001. The most recent VA examination in June 2014 showed no significant change in the severity of his hearing impairment compared to previous examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there was no established link between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition. As such, service connection for bilateral hearing loss could not be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence supports reopening of these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.