Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability is considered established, and his in-service noise exposure supports a finding that he incurred such during service. While the June 2010 VA examiner found the hearing loss less likely related to service, the August 2014 VA examiner noted no evidence of post-service noise exposure or other cause for the condition. The Veteran's consistent reports of diminished hearing since separation from service are credible and support his claim.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or housebound status was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria.,The appellant's claim for specially adapted housing, which is a one-time benefit, was also denied because the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not due to his military service, including exposure to noise from aircraft and flight line equipment.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% disability rating for the entire appeal period. The Board also dismissed his claim for TDIU as moot due to the already assigned 100% schedular rating for PTSD. His claims for service connection of substance abuse disorder and left ear hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has determined that the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder) are inextricably intertwined due to their interrelated nature. The Veteran's service connection claims have been remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to May 11, 2011 as he was employed on full-time basis until January 16, 2010 and briefly worked as a security guard from May to June 2010. The evidence showed that his service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including obtaining a new opinion on whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction and Meniere’s syndrome are caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus and/or medication used to treat his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, jaw disability, and headaches. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a perforated right eardrum as there is no current evidence of such condition and the Veteran's belief in having such a condition was not supported by medical evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records do not provide sufficient audiometric data for a determination, but his history of noise exposure is conceded.

The Board has not fully addressed the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The case is being returned to obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% from June 27, 2014 to January 22, 2018. The rating for PTSD remains unchanged as the appeal is mixed (some issues granted and others not).

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

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of hearing loss service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. Service connection is also remanded for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has increased in severity since his last VA examination. He is being asked to provide updated audiograms and treatment records, and a VA audiologist will be scheduled for an examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing impairment is related to noise exposure during service. The June 2013 private examiner concluded that the Veteran’s hearing loss was at least as likely as not caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there is insufficient information in the current records to determine if these conditions are related to service.