Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was granted with a noncompensable rating prior to April 6, 2010. From that date onwards, the Veteran received a compensable (20%) rating for his hearing loss. The RO also granted an increased rating of 20% effective April 6, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss of his right ear did not increase in severity during service, and thus concluded that it was not aggravated by active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is not shown to be manifested by puretone threshold averages and/or speech recognition scores that translate to higher than a Level I designation in the left ear and Level III designation on the right. As such, he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of frost bite, chronic depression, a nonspecific headache disability (claimed as chronic migraines), fatigue syndrome, and prostate cancer are all denied. The Veteran also had his PTSD rating increased to 30 percent effective July 27, 2006, but the claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for left ear hearing loss and right eye injury during a June 2011 Board hearing. As these claims have been properly withdrawn, they are dismissed.

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

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, meeting the threshold for a schedular TDIU. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The decision found that there was no evidence of a preexisting disability for hypertension or erectile dysfunction, and that the current conditions did not meet VA criteria for a disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including exposure to loud noise. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensably disabling throughout the appeal period, with the worst manifestation being Level II hearing acuity in the right ear and Level I hearing acuity in the left ear.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, as well as his request for a higher rating for PTSD. The Board also remanded the issues of reopening his claim for service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and left ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not causally related to his active service, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but his claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.