Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for service connection for hepatitis C, were denied. The Veteran was also not granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was received on July 21, 2010. The Board found that the effective date cannot be earlier than this date as there is no evidence of a prior claim or entitlement to benefits.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and deviated nasal septum are service connected. However, the right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a ratable disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss, which are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and records in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case addressing the appellant's status as a substitute claimant, rather than on an accrued benefits basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, left index finger amputation, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, compound fracture of right ulna and radius, and hammer toes, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. The Veteran does not have a current disability of hearing loss for VA purposes during the appeal period.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for clarification on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to military service and if it shares etiology with his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his active duty service and may not be presumed as an organic disease of the nervous system. The evidence does not show left ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and seeking an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss remains on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, are found to be of such severity as to preclude his participation in any substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his period of active duty. The Veteran reported noise exposure during service, but no in-service complaints or audiometric findings were noted. Post-service treatment records indicate a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss beginning in 2001, with an opinion from Dr. V.P. suggesting that the current hearing loss may be due to initial noise exposure while performing his job duties in service superimposed with presbycusis.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to her military noise exposure and grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA outpatient records and examination reports. The TDIU claim may be effectively re-raised as it was previously denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and systemic arthritis. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was previously denied in July 1993, but new evidence submitted since then does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. For systemic arthritis, there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have developed primarily from noise exposure during his military service.