Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of entitlement to an earlier effective date or higher disability ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunction was not valid, and denied his claim. The Board also determined there was no clear and unmistakable error in the August 2000 rating decision denying bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner will be asked to consider whether current hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, low back disability and PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability was not chronic in service, continuous after service, manifested to a compensable degree within one year of service, and does not otherwise relate to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is the result of his in-service exposure to military noise, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss for VA purposes and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between his current tinnitus and service. As such, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be established.

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 missing service records and scheduling a VA audiology examination.

The VA Board found no evidence of a chronic hearing loss disability in service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not linked to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for a new audiological examination to assess the current severity of his hearing loss disabilities and determine if they are related to service.

The Board has granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, as the Veteran's hearing acuity is rated at Level IV in both ears.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun in service and has persisted, warranting service connection. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as further development is required.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The VA examinations have consistently shown Level II to III hearing acuity in both ears, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not begin during service and is not related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not causally related to military service, as evidenced by the lack of in-service noise exposure and the presence of a progressive hearing loss with no specific etiology.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED for additional development and consideration of his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and left hip disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of new evidence, including a VA hearing loss examination and social work survey. The claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis and entitlement to TDIU are being reconsidered.