Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied in September 1986. The effective date of the grant of service connection was not earlier than January 3, 2001 for left ear hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss was denied in September 1986. The effective date of the grant of service connection was not earlier than November 5, 2007.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, Meniere's disease, and eczema. The Veteran's claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service. The Board also finds that the Veteran's vertigo is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals on the issues of left knee, left ear hearing loss, and left ear tinnitus have been dismissed as withdrawn. The claim to reopen a back disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the evidence supports a finding that his current hearing loss was incurred during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been denied. His claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending as the VA has not provided a medical opinion regarding their etiology. The Veteran's bladder cancer claim is also pending.

The Board found that the RO's severance of service connection for left ear hearing loss was not proper and restored the Veteran's service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to his military service and the Board finds that he currently has a current disability as a result of in-service noise exposure. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but a new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from service or are otherwise unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran is found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and medications prescribed for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hip replacements and irritable colon, have significantly impacted his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether he can perform sedentary or office work due to these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's MOS as a sheet metal worker likely exposed him to acoustic trauma, supporting his assertions of in-service noise exposure. Service connection is granted for these conditions based on direct evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The issue of an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Board found there is no legal basis to assign a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis related to his right knee and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was first noted many years after service, and the VA examiner opined it less likely than not caused by or a result of military noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus existed prior to his active service, but were aggravated by his service. As a result, the Veteran is granted entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is caused by his service-connected left ear hearing loss, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus as secondary to service-connected left ear hearing loss. The right ear hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that a new VA audiological examination is needed to properly assess the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the October 2012 VA examiner's opinion was based on inaccurate factual premises.