Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran has a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and opinion due to insufficient rationale in the previous November 2015 VA opinion. The Veteran's representative requested an additional hearing test by a Doctor of Audiology, and discussed possible delayed onset hearing loss based on medical journal articles.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 7, 2014 was denied. For the period since April 7, 2014, his claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been rated based on their current severity, with the PTSD receiving a 70% rating prior to December 27, 2013, and a 100% rating thereafter. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for TDIU as of December 27, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.,Regarding the lumbar spine disability, the Veteran's claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service exposure to acoustic trauma. The right rib injury claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The case is being remanded for additional development to obtain service treatment records, personnel records, and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim will also be deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

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

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the appeal can be decided, including obtaining verification of the Veteran's Reserve service and any period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. Additionally, a VA audiology examination must be conducted to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including noise exposure during military service. As a result, these claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to determine the severity of his bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be causally related to in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 10 percent, and the reduction to noncompensable effective December 6, 2010 is upheld. The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities are granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations and therefore denied his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10% from February 3, 2011, through January 25, 2016. From January 26, 2016, the rating was increased to 40%. The effective date for this increase is January 26, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA audiological examination and to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a worsening of his service-connected hearing loss.,The August 1987 Board decision denying service connection for PTSD is final, and new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen this claim.