Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 23, 2011, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent since that date was denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating based on his current level of hearing impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus cannot be reasonably disassociated from his military service and therefore service connection for tinnitus is granted. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine whether any degree of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his period of military service, to include as due to in-service noise exposure, and whether his pre-existing left ear hearing loss was aggravated by his period of military service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 90 percent, with service-connected disabilities that do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his occupational experience and educational background.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and is not otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and notifying the Veteran of the scheduled examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending as the VA audiology evaluation has been ordered.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain post-service treatment records and military retiree records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension. Specifically, an adequate etiological opinion must be obtained regarding both conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the separation examination findings and the relationship between the Veteran's reported hearing problem after exposure to military noise and his current bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there was no chronicity of symptoms during or within one year after service. The VA examiner opined that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the original grant was clearly and unmistakably erroneous.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied as she does not meet the schedular criteria, and there is no evidence that her unemployability is due to non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is due to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for the entire list of issues presented. The Board found no evidence to support service connection for any conditions, and the ratings assigned were deemed appropriate based on the current functional impairment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension in June 1986. The Veteran's claim has been reopened, but the claims remain denied as new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as well as his initial evaluations for post-operative knee conditions, have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability related to in-service noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including clarification from New Sound Hearing Aid Center regarding the use of the Maryland CNC test in their July 2013 audiometric testing and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to explain any difference in results between previous examinations and the private examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination and consideration of his lay assertions regarding in-service ear infections. The case is now pending for further development.