Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to April 23, 2008 and at zero percent from that date. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for either period.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable since June 2008. The VA audiological examinations conducted have shown that the Veteran's hearing impairment does not warrant a higher rating under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during active service, were not caused by active service, and do not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by no worse than Level I in the right ear and Level V in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating.

The Board found that the effective date for service connection of tinnitus should be November 16, 2007, based on the VA examination conducted on that date.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not due to his period of service and did not manifest within one year following discharge. Therefore, it denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection claim for hearing loss, as the Veteran did not experience acoustic trauma during service and there is insufficient medical evidence linking his current hearing loss to military noise exposure. The claims for residuals of pneumonia and bronchitis were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since August 17, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran has experienced very frequent and prolonged migraine headaches that have been completely prostrating and likely productive of severe economic inadaptability throughout the entire appellate period.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss should not be earlier than November 30, 2011. The Veteran's claims were denied in December 1986 but reopened on November 30, 2011.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and denied a compensable rating for prostate cancer. The case is remanded to issue a Statement of the Case on the issue of a compensable rating for prostate cancer.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining confirmation of his period of active duty and ensuring all military records are obtained. A VA examination will be conducted to determine if he has a current hearing loss disability and its likely etiology.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a bilateral ear disorder, a respiratory disorder (asthmatic bronchitis), and bilateral hearing loss. The claims were decided on the basis of direct service connection without any presumption or exposure to herbicides/radiation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis externa were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating based on the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely due to his in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. The claims of bilateral hearing loss disability and left ankle disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no verified in-service stressor and the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, after reviewing all available evidence, including VA examinations and lay statements, the Board finds that there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his military service.