Hearing loss decisions — 2013

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 10% disability rating from August 26, 2010 to August 8, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, as the Veteran did not have a current disability at the time of his separation from service and there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current conditions to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at zero percent, and the Board finds that no higher rating is warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was diagnosed prior to his active service and was not aggravated by any disease, injury or event during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The case will be returned to the Regional Office (RO) for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to service or noise exposure experienced therein, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The issue of headaches was also addressed but no opinion could be provided without resorting to speculation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on the current level of disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding his left ear hearing loss. The right ear increased rating claim is also deferred until the service connection issue is resolved.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss was denied. His right ear hearing loss claim was also denied, as he did not have sufficient hearing loss to be considered a ratable disability by VA standards.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran on this issue, granting service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected Eustachian tube dysfunction with hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, while the residuals of a fracture of the right transverse process with degenerative disc disease and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both denied. Service connection for vertigo was granted secondary to tinnitus or hearing loss. A TDIU rating prior to June 11, 2012 is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the inadequacies of existing VA and private audiometric evaluations, which are required to determine if he is entitled to a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is currently rated at 10 percent since January 5, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as they did not manifest in service or within one year of separation. The VA examiner concluded that the disabilities are more likely due to age-related changes and occupational noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and denied service connection for both bilateral hearing loss and hypertensive vascular disease. The Board concluded that the Veteran's hypertension was not caused or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability by VA standards.