Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from an audiologist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within one year after separation. The VA examiners concluded that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are more likely due to post-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records related to a VA administrative tort claim and providing an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by carelessness or negligence on the part of VA.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, and denied entitlement to higher ratings for OSA and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has ordered a new examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically considering in-service acoustic trauma. The case is being remanded due to inadequate previous opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions, requiring further development including obtaining insurance records, VA examination, and compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his current level of hearing acuity does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis with headaches and bilateral hearing loss are denied as the current ratings are considered to be the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence that his conditions preexisted service or were not aggravated by it. A new VA examination is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The Board finds that the Veteran experienced noise exposure during his military service, which is considered a presumptive basis for service connection of tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be present at separation from service or within one year thereafter.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial evaluations for PTSD, skin cancer, and service connection for hypertension have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of those claims. The appeal for tinnitus has also been dismissed as it was fully satisfied by a previous decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal audiometric results at both entrance and separation from service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has dismissed this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of treatment records and a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for left knee disability were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus disability that is related to his military service. The evidence of record, including VA and private treatment records, shows no complaints or findings of hearing loss or tinnitus during service or for many years following separation.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear sensorineural hearing loss results in no worse than Level I hearing acuity, and he is not service-connected for right ear hearing loss. Therefore, an initial compensable rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right ruptured ear drum, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The decision also grants the Veteran's claims based on the presumption of soundness at entry into service for the right ruptured ear drum.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes cavus and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The Board concluded that the Veteran's pes cavus preexisted service and was not aggravated in service, while his hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for a disability due to noise exposure during service.