Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims can be decided, including obtaining additional VA and private treatment records, as well as opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, renal condition, and service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to missing VA medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no more than Level I hearing impairment in the right ear and Level VII hearing impairment in the left ear, warranting a noncompensable rating. The criteria for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not causally or etiologically related to his period of active service. The evidence does not show that current hearing loss was caused by or a result of an in-service event.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his audiometric results consistently showed Level I or II hearing in both ears. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty. However, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss disability in either ear, thus denying the claim for bilateral hearing loss. For PTSD, the Board noted that symptoms prior to January 16, 2014 did not meet criteria for a higher rating, but from that date forward they only met criteria for a reduced reliability and productivity impairment. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was found to have been productive of mild right lower extremity radiculopathy at times, but no more than moderately severe left lower extremity radiculopathy since January 29, 2014.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, rated as noncompensable since July 30, 2007, was increased to a 10% rating effective November 14, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current hearing loss disability manifested in service and persisted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.,For the remaining issues of left knee disability and right knee disability, additional development or processing is required.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as the evidence is in equipoise, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss did not increase in severity during or as a result of service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and updated treatment records. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to TDIU are part of the pending increased rating claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining private audiology records and an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not related to service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.