Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's service dates and obtain her complete treatment records. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim that his substantive appeal was timely filed, as it was received more than 60 days after the date of actual receipt of the SOC and more than one year after the notification of the September 2008 rating decision he had intended to appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss. The examiner needs to provide a clear and supported rationale for their conclusion.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, as the VA examinations and Social Security Administration records indicate he is capable of performing sedentary work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset in service or are otherwise related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss had its onset in service or is otherwise related to his active duty. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus remains pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable under the rating schedule, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss improved, warranting a reduction from an 80% to a 20% disability rating effective July 1, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Memorial Healthcare Center in Owosso, Michigan on March 19, 2013 was denied as VA facilities were feasibly available to provide the care that was provided.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological evaluation. The case will also be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted a finding that it is related to his military service. The hearing loss rating remains unchanged.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for sinusitis/rhinitis and tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The decision also dismissed the appeal on the issue of sinusitis/rhinitis.

The Veteran's appeal seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn. The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for emphysema. The Veteran's claim of a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 20, 2012 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his tinnitus is not related to service. Therefore, both claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including an opinion regarding whether his right ear hearing loss disability may be caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ear hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and a lumbar spine disorder. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.