Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's right ankle DJD is rated at 10 percent, the maximum available rating. The evidence does not show marked limited motion of the ankle.,There is no current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.,Hypertension was not shown to have onset during or within one year after service and there is no competent medical evidence linking it to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a new VA examination of his hearing loss and requesting authorization to obtain private medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected status post tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, cholesteatoma and left ear hearing loss do not warrant a higher or additional rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for left and right ear hearing loss disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a new VA audiological examination for rating purposes. A sleep disorder evaluation is also needed to determine if it is related to service-connected tinnitus or hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of hearing impairment during service and the VA examiner opined that it is more likely due to natural aging rather than noise exposure in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine disability or bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and recurrent tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes, and the Veteran was found to be less than credible with regard to his assertions of continuity of symptoms. The Board finds that service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a finding of in-service incurrence and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further evidence and an updated VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the left groin, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. However, service connection is granted for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset during active duty.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a video conference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include reopening his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as well as claims for tinnitus, skin cancer, and PTSD.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and therefore service connection for this condition cannot be established.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarification on the cause of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as to ensure all relevant VA treatment records are obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be granted. The right ear hearing loss is considered to be at least as likely as not related to service.