Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's vestibular neuronitis/vertigo is etiologically related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's request for a videoconference hearing. The appeal is not about service connection at this stage.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during service and is related to noise exposure, thus granting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing at separation from service and no in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner opined that both conditions were less likely caused by or a result of an event in military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, including noise exposure during active duty. The claims were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's injuries, including a fracture of the skull and hearing loss/tinnitus resulting from a fall on January 3, 1980, were found to be proximately caused by his own alcohol abuse. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's assertions of a continuity of symptomatology since his active duty support his claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted on an extra-schedular basis prior to January 4, 2013, and on a regular schedular basis since that date due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from August 7, 2009 to April 16, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensably disabling (20%) throughout the appeal period. The Board found no evidence warranting an extraschedular evaluation and denied a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have not been shown to prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, porphyria cutanea tarda (PCD), and PTSD. The Veteran's reports of in-service stressors are deemed unreliable.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss in either ear that meets the criteria for a disability rating under VA regulations. As such, he is not entitled to service connection for right and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is related to active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.