Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's hearing loss and vision loss are not service-connected as they were either pre-dated service or do not have a link to in-service events.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, and right foot injury are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied due to a lack of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made on the claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Specifically, new examinations are required to address whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, as his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The left ear hearing loss disability and cirrhosis of the liver are rated at noncompensable levels.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. The VA audiologist should provide an opinion regarding the significance of threshold shifts between entrance and separation in the Veteran's case.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0%) due to the severity of his condition not warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and granted service connection. The hearing loss issue remains pending as further examination and clarification are needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for residuals of hepatitis A, finding that there was no evidence to support a higher initial rating or service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA audio examination to determine if his current or previously diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service and whether it is aggravated by any service-connected disorder, including tinnitus. The examiner must also consider if there is any other basis for granting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as well as whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected malaria. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability are related to in-service noise exposure, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, dental disorder, hypertension, low back disability, pes planus, and left eye disorder. The shin splints were resolved prior to filing of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations and opinions to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various ear disorders, including bilateral ear disorder, left ear tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The examination reports must consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU for the entire appellate period.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's report of its onset during service is credible. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.