Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis did not warrant a compensable rating, TMJ was not diagnosed or related to service, and bilateral hearing loss was not shown during service or within one year of separation. Therefore, these claims were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The hearing loss, tinnitus, and congestive heart failure disabilities were previously denied in August 2007 but new evidence has been submitted that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and potential inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to his inability to attend the scheduled Board hearing. He will be given an opportunity for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability for VA compensation purposes due to lack of evidence of a right ear hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations. For left ear hearing loss, the Board found that while the Veteran had in-service noise exposure, his considerable post-service occupational and recreational noise exposure outweighed this factor. The Board also noted that there was no medical documentation of complaints or treatment for hearing loss during service, but the Veteran's lay statements were considered credible.,For tinnitus, the Board found that the Veteran reported a 45-year history of tinnitus starting while serving aboard the USS Lexington and attributed it to noise exposure. The examiner opined that it was as likely as not associated with his hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulation and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 20 percent since September 25, 2012. The VA determined that the increase in hearing thresholds identified on the September 2012 private audiogram warranted a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not otherwise related to his active duty service. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and further evidentiary development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records, provide proper notice regarding TDIU, and schedule a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn. The Board granted a TDIU from February 12, 2014, based on his service-connected disabilities. The case is remanded to schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing regarding his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. Tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while the bilateral hearing loss claim is based on new evidence of current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for reactive airway disease, allergies, ehrlichiosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation. The Board found that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, hyperlipidemia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.