Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, with the onset of both occurring many years after separation from active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of hepatitis C during the April 2012 Board hearing. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and a compensable rating for hepatitis A and B are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 30 percent for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, a maximum of 10 percent for tinnitus, or any higher rating for his right ankle and right tibia/fibula disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability have been evaluated as noncompensable ratings since November 19, 2007. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and an increased evaluation for his heart condition have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied these claims on the merits. The evidence does not establish a nexus between the current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran is seeking specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his service-connected disabilities, but the RO/AMC needs to schedule an examination and consider the revised VA regulations for these grants.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his military service. The claim for varicose veins of the right lower extremity with stasis dermatitis is also granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to noise exposure during active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest in service or within one year of separation and is not related to any period of active duty. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his active service, as there was no evidence of chronic symptoms or injury during service. The Veteran did not sustain a disease or injury (other than acoustic trauma) in service, nor did he experience continuous symptoms post-service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is found to be inadequate for the assigned noncompensable evaluation, and an extraschedular evaluation of 10% is granted.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for hearing loss or degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, as there was no showing of aggravation during service and the Veteran's conditions preexisted his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his hearing acuity is shown to be at Level I in the right ear and Level V in the left ear. The current 0 percent rating encompasses the greatest level of hearing impairment shown during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities are adequately contemplated by the applicable diagnostic criteria, and he does not meet the requirements for a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions alone.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration due to incomplete records, including those from the U.S. Army Hospital in Nuremberg and VA audiological records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination regarding the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability, specifically addressing his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is also denied. The Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability during service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology or nexus to in-service noise exposure.