Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case to determine if a TDIU is warranted on an extraschedular basis due to service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and radiation proctitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for residuals of a right femur fracture, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable due to the severity of his hearing impairment not meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected due to exposure to acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The Veteran now contends that his right ear hearing loss may be aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The VA examiner opined that these conditions were less likely than not caused by or a result of his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to his military noise exposure, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his service, including due to noise exposure. The Board found the evidence against a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, a right leg disorder, and a left leg disorder. The claim for low back disorder was reopened but not adjudicated.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the RO has since granted an increased rating to 10%. The appeal is about whether he should receive a higher rating on and after February 13, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, which is claimed as secondary to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, has been remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to active military service and denies his claim for service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran currently suffers from tinnitus, and there is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether his tinnitus is related to service. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and supplemental opinion to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip disability and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is found to have developed during his active service, warranting service connection.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during his active service. As such, the claim for service connection has been granted.