Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while his hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to missing VA treatment records from the Atlanta VAMC.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to noise exposure during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss with recurrent otitis media does not result in a compensable rating as his hearing impairment is only at level II and he has no evidence of suppuration or aural polyps associated with the otitis media. The Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable evaluation. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

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

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but assigned a noncompensable (0%) rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no more than Level III for the right ear and Level VI for the left ear, resulting in a current 20 percent evaluation. The disability picture does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30 percent before October 13, 2012. After that date, the rating remained at 30 percent as his audiometric test results did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 10 percent since January 2007, effective from the date of his informal claim for increase.

The Veteran's appendectomy scar is rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for a superficial scar with pain. The appeal regarding service connection and tinnitus remains pending as 'unknown', while the claim for a compensable rating for the appendectomy scar has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of mumps with atrophic left testicle and chronic epididymitis, tinnitus, and reimbursement/payment for private medical services are denied. The Veteran is currently assigned a noncompensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service due to noise exposure aboard the USS Niagara Falls, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic venous insufficiency of the bilateral lower extremities and associated depression with anxiety, render him unemployable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or COPD, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and neck disorder are related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.