Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his military service, including exposure to noise during service. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination to assess the impact of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's tables for rating hearing loss disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current left ear hearing loss as defined by VA, and thus denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these previously denied claims. The Board also found that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology for tinnitus.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is unrelated to his noise exposure during service. The right ear hearing loss has been consistently shown as Level 1, which does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has found that this rating is appropriate based on the audiometric findings.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability with an effective date of February 19, 1974. The claim was previously denied in June 1974 and January 1975 due to lack of evidence of increased severity of hearing loss in service. New evidence received after these decisions, including relevant service department records, has been considered.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability ratings are denied as there is no evidence of impairment warranting a compensable rating prior to March 10, 2016 and the current findings do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lung disorder are not supported by competent evidence linking these conditions to service. The preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claims.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service, including in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's hearing acuity improved during service and upon discharge.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection. The cold injury of the bilateral feet was not established as incurred in service.

The Board has granted an initial disability evaluation of 40 percent for a bilateral hearing loss disability, effective from November 4, 2015. The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the submission of new evidence in January 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% disabling effective July 26, 2010. As a result of this rating, he is eligible for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) due to having additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more (housebound rate). The Veteran's TDIU claim is moot as his PTSD alone meets the criteria for a total disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Board hearing. The appeal is not ready for final decision.