Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and whether it constitutes a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological evaluation to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as the evidence does not show that his preexisting condition increased in severity during service. His claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD is also denied due to failure to report for VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically due to noise exposure during parachute jumps and artillery fire. As a result, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are supported by medical evidence, and his statements regarding in-service noise exposure and injury have been found credible. Service connection is granted for both conditions as they are considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and his right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his period of active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA opinion and additional treatment records, as the current opinion is not consistent with Hensley v. Brown.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus should be November 3, 2011. The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the jaw was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Board found that his missing teeth are not related to service and can be replaced by a suitable prosthesis.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest available evaluation of 70 percent.,The Veteran's fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and pains, tingling of limbs, poor concentration, mood and sleep disorder, respiratory condition, low grade fevers, and boils are considered to be manifestations of an undiagnosed illness due to his Gulf War service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sensory loss, left side of neck at C3-4 distribution, warrants a rating of 10 percent and not higher. The evidence does not support a finding of more severe impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in unemployability throughout the appellate period.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations. The case is now being processed again with a new attempt at scheduling an examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not manifested by worse than a Level I hearing loss in the right ear, and a Level V hearing loss in the left ear since April 25, 2012. Therefore, he is denied a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not manifest in service or within a year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking it to his military service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between the current hearing loss and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during active duty service. Bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by service, while tinnitus had its onset during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inadequacy of his most recent examination for bilateral hearing loss. A new VA examination is required to assess the current nature, extent and severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling a TBI protocol examination. The Veteran's claims of increased hearing loss and service connection for a traumatic brain injury are on appeal.