Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the increase in severity during service being considered as aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, as well as an increased rating for migraine headaches. The Board dismissed these issues due to withdrawal.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam or had chronic symptoms related to these conditions during service.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement is not service-connected as the preponderance of the evidence shows it was less likely than not related to his service.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least in equipoise with service connection, while tinnitus is granted based on credible lay testimony.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right elbow disorder, right shoulder disorder, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal disorder, and rash were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The appeals are all in a 'denied' disposition.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied referral for extraschedular consideration of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability since November 12, 2012 as the criteria are already contemplated by the rating schedule.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition based on the examination results.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus remain on appeal.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the service connection for left ear hearing loss, and as a result, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's service periods and obtain his medical records. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and sleep apnea are related to his service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the VA examination reports are inadequate and have ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from the January 2013 VA examiner. The Veteran's current hearing loss is being evaluated in relation to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to noise exposure during his military service, and the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for his hearing loss and PTSD claims, as well as to verify the claimed stressors. The RO will also determine if there are any established service-connected conditions that may affect his current disability ratings.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss requires additional development and a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disability. The case is being remanded to the AOJ.