Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted, as the Board finds that his tinnitus is attributable to his active service. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) remains pending and will be addressed in a separate SOC.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the current hearing loss disability is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his bilateral knee disabilities, hypertension, hearing loss disability, prostate disorder, and psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's hypertension is presumed service connected due to Agent Orange exposure. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that his current hypertension is related to his military service or blood pressure readings in service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability may be related to noise exposure during service, but the examiner should also consider whether any current hearing loss disability manifested within one year of separation from service. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that his current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service.,The Veteran's prostate disorder may be due to Agent Orange exposure, but the examiner should also consider whether any other diagnosed prostate disorder is related to his military service. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that he has a current prostate disorder and if so, whether such disorder is related to his military service.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability may be due to PTSD or another diagnosed psychiatric disorder. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA examination and medical opinion by a specialist physician to determine if the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service, specifically his tonsillectomy. The Court found that the Board relied on inadequate VA medical opinions obtained in November 2012 and August 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence, as the existing evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the underlying claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and Meniere's disease. The tinnitus claim will also be scheduled for a videoconference Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC due to lack of need for regular aid and attendance or permanent housebound status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, and his hearing loss disability is established as a result of in-service noise exposure. The remaining issue of service connection for hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As a result, these claims are granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection effective November 15, 2002. The claim for an earlier effective date due to CUE in the July 1985 rating decision is denied.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection effective October 10, 2002. The claim for an earlier effective date due to CUE in the July 1985 rating decision is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service or noise exposure therein, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining all outstanding VA treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ring finger, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee conditions have been denied.,Service connection was granted for a left wrist condition (rated as 10 percent disabling), GERD (rated as 10 percent disabling), lumbosacral strain (rated as 10 percent disabling), and left ear hearing loss (rated as 10 percent disabling).

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss to his active duty service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was related to his service, but the Board found that his bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in service and is unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and his claims for service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a right index finger fracture are denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing such disabilities were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The appeal will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities cause him to be housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes during active duty. The VA examiner provided negative opinions regarding both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.