Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, given the inadequate opinions in the November 2009 VA examination. The appeal is REMANDED.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The initial rating for his coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to September 28, 2012, was granted at a 30% disability rating. His claim for TDIU prior to that date was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, scars, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, right hand arthritis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU due to his combined disability rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes had its onset during combat service in Vietnam, and the Board has determined that the criteria to establish service connection are met.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and medical opinions are necessary to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right and left ankle sprains, as well as whether his diagnosed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his conceded exposure to acoustic trauma in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are supported by evidence, meeting the first requirement for service connection. The second element is also met as there is in-service noise exposure consistent with his military duties. Given all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that his tinnitus had its onset during service and grants service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to the issue of entitlement to service connection for chloracne. The case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral arm disorders (including left shoulder), and bilateral hand disorders are denied. Service connection is granted for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service onset or a relationship to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his active duty service, as there was no evidence of significant threshold shifts or noise injury during service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's hearing loss is causally related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and occupational experience.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and missing records. The Veteran's hearing loss is being reviewed again with a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and osteoarthritis of the bilateral foot are related to service, with new evidence received since previous decisions raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that a new medical opinion is needed due to the inadequacy of the previous examination's reasoning and because the Veteran disputes the timing of his hearing loss onset.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they meet the criteria for consideration as disabilities due to in-service noise exposure, with continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the likelihood that his current disabilities were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, and thus denied the claim of service connection for this disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, back, hip, and knee disabilities are not service-connected. The bilateral hearing loss is granted as secondary to service due to acoustic trauma. The respiratory disorder (COPD) is denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated and found to be no higher than a 0 percent rating, as his puretone thresholds did not meet the criteria for any compensable rating.