Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran served in a military occupation that exposed him to noise, but his service records do not show any history or complaints indicative of hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service. The VA examiner determined that there was no significant threshold shift during service, and the current hearing loss is less likely due to acoustic trauma related to his MOS as with field artillery or military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely related to his active service, and grants service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) is granted as well.

The Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, liposarcoma, and bilateral hearing loss were denied because there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other service-connected conditions that could be linked to these disabilities.,There was insufficient evidence to establish a link between the claimed conditions and active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 70 percent from January 24, 2012 to May 11, 2015. From May 12, 2015, the rating increased to 100 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service noise exposure. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered after the remand.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and vertigo with severe tinnitus and occasional staggering alone cause him to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection of PTSD due to in-service stressors related to his fear of hostile military activity during his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The evidence is in equipoise and warrants service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to acoustic trauma in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including noise exposure during combat operations. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for ruptured eardrums, neck condition, and ischemic heart disease as they were not raised in his original claim for bilateral hearing loss. The decision on the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is that it has not been established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, including as secondary to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange), were granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during active service, were not caused by an event, injury, or disease in active service, and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to active service. Service connection for right ear hearing loss was not addressed due to a remand.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's NOD with respect to the January 2009 rating decision was not timely filed, and thus the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and concussion are denied as untimely. The January 2009 rating decision is considered final.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been evaluated as noncompensable. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his current hearing loss and service.