Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to incomplete service records. The missing records will be sought and associated with the claim file or, if not found, the Veteran will be advised of alternative sources.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss or a nexus to service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied as there is no evidence that it is related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for diabetic retinopathy with cataracts and service connection for bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service due to noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a request for a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss supports this determination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess the impact of his bilateral hearing loss disability on his employment and vocational pursuits.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is less likely related to his military service, as there was no evidence of a pre-service hearing impairment and no increase in disability during service. The earliest medical evidence of hearing loss was dated over 60 years after separation from service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and his PTSD is rated at the maximum 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, and no higher evaluation is warranted.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a broken right ankle or any signs and symptoms thereof. The Appellant's statements regarding his injury in service are not credible, as he did not receive treatment for the right ankle during service and there are no post-service medical records indicating a current disability. Therefore, service connection for a broken right ankle cannot be established.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown during service or within one year thereafter, and the VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The RO assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective December 21, 2007 and later increased it to 20 percent effective November 9, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to conflicting audiometric results and inadequate etiological opinions. The case will be readjudicated after the appropriate development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 50 percent since August 2, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence supports this rating and grants a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, effective from May 23, 1995. The initial rating assigned is 10% for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of evidence. The issues are whether service connection should be granted for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.