Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable, with the VA examiner noting that his current hearing acuity did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in August 2011, with a noncompensable rating effective September 24, 2010. The VA increased the rating to 20 percent effective September 24, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to secure medical records and arrange for examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and left leg burns.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus in the right ear is service-connected. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a neck injury are remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Pittsburgh VAMC and Orlando VAMC. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to address these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For his left eye disability, the Board determined there was no evidence of superimposed disease or injury during service to warrant service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable rating for service-connected right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss, but the evidence does not support a connection to his military service. The Board finds that the current hearing loss is more likely due to natural aging changes rather than noise exposure during service.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's low back disability is service connected as a result of an in-service injury. However, his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of periods of active duty Reserve service and confirmation of exposure to noise trauma during such periods. An advisory medical opinion from an audiologist or otologist is also required.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is related to his active service, including the reported in-service incident during basic training.,A neck disability is also being remanded for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a current condition and whether it is related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, including periods of ACDUTRA. The VA audiologist found no evidence supporting a connection between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus disability related to his active duty service. However, the Veteran's currently diagnosed tinnitus began during and continued since his active duty service.