Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the knees are related to his military service, with the exception that the hearing loss is considered a type of disability presumed due to noise exposure. The knee disability is not considered presumptively related to service.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeals are dismissed as they have been previously adjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable or in need of aid and attendance, thus his claims for TDIU and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to a personal assault during service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not found to be directly related to service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, but finds that he has established service connection for tinnitus based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims may be finally adjudicated, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records prior to February 2009. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also being reviewed for a possible connection to military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active military service. However, there is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability in the right ear for VA purposes and left ear hearing loss is not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's basic eligibility for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance has been granted. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD have also been addressed, with the latter being found not to be established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete information and need for additional medical opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, and heart disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal is currently in a pending state.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, PTSD, and his bilateral hearing loss had their onset in service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of his periods of service and obtaining treatment records. The issues will be reconsidered by the Board.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his right ear hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the Maryland CNC speech discrimination test and whether the examinations were performed by a state licensed audiologist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus disability had its onset during service and is therefore granted. For his hearing loss, a compensable rating is denied.