Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The RO denied the claim on the basis that there was no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria. The case is now remanded to provide the Veteran with a new VA examination and determine if he has a current hearing loss disability related to his active service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service, including any in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded to the AOJ for further consideration, including referral to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of VA's Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board vacated the November 8, 2013 decision denying service connection for hearing loss disability and granted a 40% rating for the Veteran's gunshot wound to the right arm with carpal tunnel syndrome effective August 23, 2012. The issues of service connection for hearing loss disability and increased rating for the right arm condition remain unresolved.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he was still employed at a wine company earning either $18,000 or $42,000 in the past year. The combined rating of 60% does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypothyroidism was granted, with a current rating of 60 percent effective April 30, 2009. The other service connection claims were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a DRO hearing and need for additional medical records. The Veteran's low back disorder is unclearly related to service, and he needs an examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be the result of in-service acoustic trauma, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss is being remanded due to newly associated service treatment records that may indicate a worsening during active duty. The case will be reconsidered in light of these records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for limitation of right knee extension and instability were granted, with a rating of zero percent effective February 1, 2011.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. However, both claims are denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing a link between current disabilities and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within one year following separation from service. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between current hearing loss and military noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations regarding his claims for service connection, as well as a VA examination for the severity of his coronary artery disease. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to respond to this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and following substantially gainful employment, as his conditions are not severe enough to render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and perforated tympanic membranes is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability (tinnitus) related to his in-service noise exposure, which supports granting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded as the VA examination provided was inadequate and a new opinion from a VA examiner is needed to determine if his current hearing disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disease during service or continuity of symptomatology since service, and the conditions are not presumed due to military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his military service. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted effective from February 2, 2010. The Board found that the earlier claim was not timely filed within one year of separation from active duty.