Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection for pulmonary disability and bilateral hearing loss. The case will be readjudicated after the completion of the requested actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of head trauma, right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of bilateral ear infections with vertigo. The claim for lumbar DDD and cervical spine stenosis with radiculopathy was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen it.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, pes planus with plantar fasciitis, cervical strain, lumbar strain, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint hypertrophy and strain (major), and left shoulder strain (minor) were denied as there is no current evidence of a bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations. The Veteran's service treatment records show exposure to noise during service but do not indicate the presence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's PTSD and CAD have been granted initial ratings, with PTSD receiving a 70% rating. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his disabilities are not related to his military service, including exposure to contaminants.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral hand/arm disability (claimed as due to cold injury) are found to be related to service. The acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he claims is due to noise exposure during military service. The Board has determined that a new VA audiological examination is needed to determine if his current hearing loss is related to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a respiratory disorder, to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and emphysema are being remanded due to the need for additional development including verification of his service records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for these conditions remain August 31, 2010.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses from January 13, 2011 to January 17, 2011 are approved as part of his hospitalization for a nonservice-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches. The evidence did not show any in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, nor was there a showing of continuity of symptomatology after discharge. The VA examinations found no current disability related to service.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have sufficient hearing loss in his ears to be considered a disability by VA standards, thus denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and may not be presumed to be.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The Board finds that the Veteran did not have bilateral hearing loss during service and does not meet the criteria for a current disability.

The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss that is likely as not related to his active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA otolaryngologist regarding the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed bilateral hearing loss. The case will be returned to the Board after this is completed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the cumulative impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability, and to determine if he meets the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of chronic or continuous hearing impairment in service and noting that post-service occupational noise exposure is more likely responsible for his current hearing loss.