Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are service-connected, with at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence supporting this determination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss or residuals of nose injury for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The other issues, including reduction of the disability rating for posttraumatic headaches and entitlements related to PTSD and TDIU, are pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cause of death, listed as acute respiratory failure due to COPD, was not caused or substantially contributed to by any service-connected condition. The appellant's claim for a heart disability in service is unsubstantiated and speculative.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as the combined severity of his right and left ear hearing acuity at any given time warranted a maximum evaluation of 20 percent. The claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and clarification of the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including a supplemental medical opinion from the examiner who conducted the May 2009 VA audiometric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability was rated at 20% from October 25, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss had worsened since his previous VA examination in April 2013 and granted a higher rating based on this evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and thus cannot establish service connection.,There is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's tinnitus to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to loud noise during active duty.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms within a year of discharge. The Veteran's lay statements concerning the onset and continuity of his hearing problems were deemed inconsistent with other evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including GAD and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his military service. The claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hypertension remain pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including providing VCAA notice and obtaining an addendum to the June 2014 VA medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus in a September 2014 rating decision, resolving the Veteran's appeal. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to August 21, 2014 and increased to 20 percent effective from that date. The appeal is denied as the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing acuity did not meet VA criteria for disability in either ear and that there was no link to active duty training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not incurred in service, including from acoustic trauma experienced during his active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right lower extremity disorder, diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his active military service.