Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are inextricably intertwined due to the pending service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss disability is not shown to have been manifested by worse than Level I hearing acuity in that ear. Therefore, an initial compensable rating for the condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a hearing, and providing an examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and benign positional vertigo.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to active duty service and therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 30 percent, which is below the threshold required. The Board finds that his disabilities are not so severe as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been shown to be worse than Level III in the right ear or Level II in the left ear, which falls within the schedular criteria for a 0 percent rating. Therefore, the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA audiological examination due to the lack of adequate speech discrimination test results from the previous examination. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss will be evaluated based on current nature, severity, and functional impact.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his left ear, and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. For his right ear, while he was exposed to noise during service, there is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability within one year post-service separation, making it presumptively non-service connected. The Board finds the VA examiner's opinion regarding the nexus between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss to be highly probative.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease and has been granted service connection.

The Board denied reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and a left knee disability due to lack of new and material evidence. The heart disability claim was not reopened as there was no new and material evidence received. The anemia claim was also not reopened.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted from April 17, 2006 due to service-connected PTSD and other disabilities meeting the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The effective date of December 31, 2009 is incorrect as evidence shows unemployability prior to that date.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is linked to noise exposure during active service, while left ear hearing loss is not established. The Veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hearing loss, emphysema, and service connection for a blood disorder, COPD, and arthritis have all been denied. The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and to provide the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the etiology of her hearing loss, tinnitus, and left hip/thigh disorder. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tumor in the inner ear was not incurred during his active military service and is not related to his service. The Veteran's hypothyroidism and left ear hearing loss are also denied as there is no evidence of their onset within one year post-service.