Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hip replacements and irritable colon, have significantly impacted his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether he can perform sedentary or office work due to these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's MOS as a sheet metal worker likely exposed him to acoustic trauma, supporting his assertions of in-service noise exposure. Service connection is granted for these conditions based on direct evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The issue of an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Board found there is no legal basis to assign a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis related to his right knee and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was first noted many years after service, and the VA examiner opined it less likely than not caused by or a result of military noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus existed prior to his active service, but were aggravated by his service. As a result, the Veteran is granted entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is caused by his service-connected left ear hearing loss, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus as secondary to service-connected left ear hearing loss. The right ear hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that a new VA audiological examination is needed to properly assess the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the October 2012 VA examiner's opinion was based on inaccurate factual premises.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability are not related to his military service, as evidenced by VA medical opinions. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder osteoarthritis, and right shoulder osteoarthritis are all found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for clarification of whether he used his hearing aids during the VA examination, and for an addendum from the December 2012 VA examiner regarding the use of hearing aids.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not rated higher than noncompensable prior to January 10, 2013 and is currently rated at 30 percent from that date. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for leg, back, neck, and wrist disorders are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for reimbursement of private medical treatment expenses are denied as the claims were received after the 90-day deadline and he did not meet all eligibility requirements under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tremors, finding that there was not enough evidence to establish a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to noise during his time in the Army as a combat engineer. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sickle cell anemia, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left knee disorder, and COPD. The evidence received since the April 1978 rating decision does not provide new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with the symptoms being continuous since separation from service. The claims for service connection have been granted.