Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus, finding that his hearing loss was at most level III in both ears, which corresponds to a zero percent evaluation. The Board also found no evidence of tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his time in active duty. The VA examinations conducted have supported this conclusion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current conditions.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an adequate examination opinion regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and its relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for his psychiatric disorder and coronary heart disease, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection cannot be established. The claim is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his period of service, including in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's hearing loss disability was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The VA examiner opined that it was less likely as not that the Veteran's current hearing loss was due to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a new VA audiological examination. The Appellant's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating and earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the reduction in rating from 80% to 70% was not valid, there was no prior unadjudicated claim for service connection before September 17, 2010, and the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been manifested by puretone thresholds greater than 55 decibels throughout the appeal period. The criteria for an initial rating higher than 80% were not met at any time during the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to failure to appear at a VA examination. The case will be readjudicated after the Veteran provides updated treatment records and undergoes a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board considered the Veteran's lay statements regarding a grenade explosion during basic training but concluded that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding of nexus between the disabilities and service.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hallux valgus of both feet, diabetes mellitus type 2, headaches, reactive airway disease, and sleep apnea. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims, and that the Veteran's conditions were not related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.