Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information on where the Veteran received treatment for hearing loss and tinnitus after service. The claims will be readjudicated based on all additional evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeal as moot because the issues were resolved in a previous decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his postservice hearing loss. The preponderance of the evidence supports this conclusion.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision can be reached on the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and alcohol dependence secondary to PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and has not been shown to be otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for rhinitis were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which he can receive VA compensation, as his hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations. For rhinitis, there was no evidence of greater than 50 percent obstruction or nasal polyps, which are required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and varicose veins have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded a TDIU beginning from January 2010.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board, and no final decision has been issued. The appellant is not entitled to attorney fees based on past-due benefits resulting from a March 2009 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claim, including obtaining relevant National Guard and Reserve service records. An addendum opinion will be requested from the VA examiner who conducted his April 2011 audiological examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, coronary artery disease, and PTSD, as well as the TDIU claim, are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence of a current disability level of left ear hearing loss meeting VA criteria for such a disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing and issuance of a statement of the case for certain claims.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion regarding his service-connected PTSD, as well as potential aggravation of substance abuse by PTSD.

The Veteran's cold injury residuals affecting the bilateral upper and lower extremities are service-connected based on continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not granted as there was no in-service hearing loss, and it did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not present in service or until many years thereafter, and are not related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the 1970s and arranging for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer and an increased rating for PTSD are also being addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service due to exposure to acoustic trauma.,Service connection was also granted for a skin condition (chloracne), with the reasoning that it preexisted service but was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable since September 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.