Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a more contemporaneous and complete examination by a vocational specialist to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination, as the current opinion is not consistent with an article submitted by Dr. Fligor.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by mild hearing impairment, and the assigned noncompensable disability rating is appropriate.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service. The claim of an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA disability rating schedule.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is due to in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection for sigmoid diverticulitis was not established as it did not manifest within one year of discharge from service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, asthma, and status-post thyroid cancer. The nerve disorder of the face issue is addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and right shoulder tendonopathy. Service connection is denied for right arm disability and left arm disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss predated service and was not aggravated during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to her period of active duty service from May 1980 to September 1980, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and a neck disability. The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on the issues of right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, and irritable bowel syndrome are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to assess his hearing loss, right hand and thumb conditions.

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, which has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since the appeal period began. The Board finds that a new VA audiology examination is necessary to determine if there has been any change in the severity of the condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma consistent with his combat service in Vietnam, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The issue of a higher initial rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's employability and consideration of whether an extraschedular evaluation is appropriate.

The Veteran's asthma was not incurred in or aggravated by service. A 50 percent disability rating for right ear hearing loss effective from October 26, 2007, to May 27, 2014 is granted.