Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, service connection cannot be established as both conditions are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete information in the July 2012 private audiogram and issues regarding service connection for a respiratory disorder and Barrett's esophagus. The AOJ must obtain clarification on whether the speech recognition scores from the July 2012 audiological report utilized the Maryland CNC test, or provide the Veteran with contact information to seek clarification.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's TDIU claim is being considered on its merits.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable from September 28, 2007 to September 3, 2009. For the period from September 3, 2009, a higher initial rating of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus within one year of separation from service. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were less likely than not caused by noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as 0 percent prior to December 19, 2011 and 10 percent as of that date. The Board finds the evidence does not support a compensable rating for any period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had onset in service and is related to his active military service. However, the Veteran's tinnitus did not have onset in service and was not caused or permanently aggravated by his active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's statements and treatment records.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and perforated tympanic membranes are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not causally or etiologically due to service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during his military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, while his other conditions have not been established as being due to or a result of service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not caused by his in-service exposure to noise during active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, as defined by VA regulations. The evidence did not show any in-service injury or disease related to hearing loss and no competent medical evidence linked his current hearing loss to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensably disabling due to the mild to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss in his left ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and denied his claims of service connection for tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and a respiratory disorder. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that there is no current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.