Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for a right leg disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The right leg disability is secondary to the Veteran's pre-existing left leg disability. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they were present before service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, with the hearing loss being granted based on presumptive service connection due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination of his hearing loss disability. The issues of increased ratings for diabetes, hypertension, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are also being addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not have their onset during his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence that he submitted a claim to reopen his original denial prior to September 16, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20% since the period on appeal, while his migraines are rated at 30% effective after December 14, 2010. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain audiological testing results from July 2009.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the increased rating of bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms more nearly approximated the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient by themselves to render him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his 1973 hearing aids and determining their manufacturing date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for residuals of right thumb and right index finger injuries is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent since December 10, 2012. The rating was granted as the disability meets the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the schedular guidelines.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability in either ear during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection as there was no showing of aggravation or continuity of symptomatology after service.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred as a result of active service due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as 0 percent disabling, and no increased rating is warranted.

The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder or hearing loss in service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active duty service, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.