Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are intertwined issues. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining the necessary addendum.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing right ear hearing loss was not aggravated by active service. The claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's initial and increased rating claims for bilateral ear disability, PTSD, and myocardial infarction have been granted. The effective dates are not specified as the claims were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss or sinusitis disabilities for VA compensation purposes. For his low back disability, the Board finds that service connection is not warranted as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service and the medical opinion indicates it is less likely than not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal for sleep apnea. The Board found that bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred in active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting new examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his respiratory disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of noise exposure during active duty. The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses met the criteria for a 'disability' under VA regulations, and his testimony regarding symptoms in service is credible.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for ear fluid condition, fluid in lungs, bilateral elbow conditions, bilateral knee conditions, and bilateral upper extremity conditions were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities. The claim for stomach condition was reopened due to new medical treatment records showing a gastric antral prepyloric ulcer.,The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, eating disorder, allergic rhinitis (mucus nasal congestion), and right parotid mucepidermoid cancer were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all issues on appeal with the exception of his bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets the VA criteria for hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, as well as tinnitus. The Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion. The Board will consider all available evidence, including VA and private treatment records, in reaching a decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports a grant of service connection. The decision also grants service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine for a 90 percent rating and render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are causally related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim but ultimately denying it after a de novo review.