Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection for benign positional vertigo and diabetes mellitus, type II have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as an increased rating for hallux valgus of the right foot and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and finds that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to noise exposure in service. The claim of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss disability is being remanded.

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

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with a rating of 70 percent effective July 18, 2013. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been consistently rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with puretone thresholds and speech recognition scores indicating Level I hearing in both ears.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is service-connected, resolving all doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0%) and there are no issues or disputes regarding the rating assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if an extraschedular rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is warranted due to its impact on employment.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA), as well as to obtain VA treatment records, before a decision can be made on her claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore cannot establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss was not caused or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative before a decision was made.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. However, further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left shoulder disability are denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD remains April 8, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn, and the Board dismissed the claims for service connection for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma (throat cancer), bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus due to lack of a pending claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA compensation examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not warrant an increase in the current 20% rating.