Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma exposure, which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for updated clinical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is etiologically related to his noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, proper VCAA notice, and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and left ear hearing loss are all service-connected. The tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred during active duty due to noise exposure. The degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is considered a chronic condition that became manifest within one year of separation from active duty. The left ear hearing loss is not service connected as it did not become manifest within one year of separation and there is no evidence of aggravation by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested in service and has continued since, meeting the criteria for service connection. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus effective from October 7, 2011. The May 18, 2012 rating decision was found to contain legal error in the assignment of probative value to evidence so as to not constitute a reasonable exercise of rating judgment.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and optic atrophy have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 80 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.,The Veteran's motion to revise or reverse the March 2015 and May 2015 rating decisions on the basis of CUE was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. As such, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to undeliverable mail, and the AOJ must ascertain the correct address and send a copy of the August 2016 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) with any other pertinent communications.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of active military service. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding that his current left ear hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, including whether any preexisting condition was aggravated by service. The July 2015 VA medical opinion did not substantially comply with the May 2015 remand directives and an addendum opinion is required.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to incomplete development and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was incurred in service due to exposure to noise during his second period of active duty. The pterygium of the left eye is found to have been aggravated by service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU based on this disability remains unresolved. The Board found that the Veteran does not have sufficient hearing impairment to warrant a compensable evaluation under VA's Rating Schedule.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, including conceded noise exposure. The issue of whether left ear hearing loss was caused by an injury in service as alleged by the Veteran will also be addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disability, right ear sensorineural hearing loss, and left ear sensorineural hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or in-service noise exposure.