Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently manifested by no more than Level XI hearing impairment in the right ear and Level IV hearing impairment in the left ear, resulting in a 30 percent evaluation. The evidence does not support an increase in rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability has been manifested by, at worst, Level V hearing. Therefore, a compensable evaluation for this condition is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and migraine headaches in September 2000, finding that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest until many years after service and was not caused by his in-service exposure to noise. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining audiometric data and scheduling a VA examination to reconcile the severity of his hearing loss disability. The claim will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology, and the conditions are not related to any disease, injury, or incident of service.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for Eustachian tube dysfunction and awards of TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance remain pending as the decision is mixed, with some issues granted and others denied. The claim for reopening of the bilateral hearing loss disability was successful but service connection remains not established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to address the nature of his retinitis pigmentosa.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records of inpatient treatment and an updated VA examination to address the relationship between his current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his substantive appeal in March 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims, specifically related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, plantar fasciitis, and bilateral knee arthritis are not considered service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the use of Maryland CNC testing and a need for further audiological examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have sufficient hearing loss in his ears to be considered a disability by VA standards and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The tinnitus claim was also denied as it is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of current disability in these conditions as required by VA regulations.

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

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and is therefore dismissed.