Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinus disorder (claimed as sinusitis), and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection in all three cases.

The case is being remanded for the Veteran to be provided with another VA examination to determine the effects of his hearing impairment on his occupation and daily life.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and his adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is not related to service. His bilateral hearing loss is also not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that he does not meet the schedular criteria and that there is no evidence of unemployability on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated and found to be at Level II, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board determined that the criteria for a compensable rating were not met or approximated.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA audiological examination and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, warranting a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, nodule in the right upper lung lobe, and lesion in the right orbital frontal/anterior fossa. The RO had previously granted service connection for these conditions but did not assign any disability rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, including obtaining information from SSA regarding any disability compensation awards. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a more contemporaneous VA audiological examination and consideration of his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The appeal regarding throat irritation was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an audiology examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing at the RO regarding the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a disability of the teeth.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are related to his service. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss but not for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his auditory acuity levels do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection. However, the claim for an increased rating for his low back disability prior to March 6, 2009 has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, including periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA. As such, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear 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 direct service connection.