Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his military service, including significant noise exposure during his time in Vietnam. As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) are found to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to or caused by military noise exposure during his service, specifically his time on the rifle range in basic training. As a result, the claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in military service and grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, as it had been noted at entry into active duty and did not show an increase in severity during service. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for initial compensable ratings for hearing loss, left ear and bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board. The Veteran has no worse than level I hearing in both ears.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his bilateral hearing loss, as he believes the previous one was inadequate. The issue remains whether an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent is warranted for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining audiometric records from the Veteran's employer. The appeal will be reconsidered after this is completed.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with tinnitus that is attributable to his active military service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition. Regarding bilateral hearing loss, a new VA examination is needed as the previous opinion was inadequate.

The Veteran's tinea cruris is found to be service-connected. The right ear hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his employment with the Federal Government and VA treatment records. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent for a mood disorder are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to issues with employment information and a need for an addendum opinion from the March 2011 VA audiological examiner.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her failure to appear for a scheduled travel Board hearing. She has been requested to be rescheduled for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10% under Diagnostic Code 6260, which is the maximum rating available.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a higher staged rating for benign positional vertigo have been withdrawn. The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus and low back disability are found to be related to his active service, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal. The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, precludes him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA ear disease examination with an otolaryngologist to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of his service-connected history of tympanic membrane perforation. The examiner should also provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his service-connected tympanic membrane perforation.