Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently suffer from bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA rating purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing. His claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, as he was not continuously rated totally disabled for a period of at least 10 years prior to his death.

The Board has determined that a new opinion and possible examination are necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability, as the basis for the May 2011 VA examiner's opinion is insufficient.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and vertigo, also claimed as Meniere's disease, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this evaluation is appropriate based on his audiometric test results. The Veteran's tinnitus is also currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal for tinnitus was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal during a July 2015 travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the conditions listed in his claims, and therefore denied all of them.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU prior to March 12, 2015, due to his service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as the additional evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss as a result of any incident during his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but is remanding to adjudicate a claim of CUE in an August 1968 rating decision denying these conditions. The Veteran will be provided with notice of any determination and given an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and to schedule him for a new VA audiological examination. The goal is to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in all VA examinations conducted, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Veteran reported no significant impact on his daily life or employment due to the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was received within one year of his discharge from active duty, and the effective date is set at the day following his separation from service on February 15, 1989.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for various disabilities and service connection for other conditions remain on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a major depressive disorder and PTSD was reopened, but the claims for hypertension, CAD, left ventricular dysfunction/congestive heart failure, ulcers, COPD, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, right foot calluses and corns, and left foot calluses and corns were all denied. The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating based on the need for convalescence following May 2012 right foot surgery was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are more likely than not related to his in-service injury. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.