Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they had their onset during his active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are not related to his military service, but has found in favor of the Veteran on both issues due to the direct relationship between the conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a lightning strike injury, left and right knee disabilities, and PTSD. However, these claims are not granted as the evidence does not establish that any disability is related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD were found to be related to his service. The cause of death was determined to be brain swelling and herniation due to other significant conditions such as chronic alcohol use, tobacco use, Coumadin therapy, and deep venous thrombosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his audiometric results do not meet the criteria for an increased rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss existed prior to his entry into service and did not undergo a permanent worsening beyond normal progression during his active service. Therefore, service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not shown until decades after his period of service and concluded that it is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new audiological examination and further development of his claim for an extraschedular evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since November 19, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher initial disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes of the right ear and does not have diabetes. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis warrants a 10 percent rating, but not higher. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to his active duty service. The right ear hearing loss and right knee disability are not considered service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a VA examination for the Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy and to issue a Statement of the Case on all issues found denied in the July 2012 and October 2012 rating decisions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and left ear hearing loss, finding no evidence of current disabilities within the applicable criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes of the right ear and does not have diabetes. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 40% effective July 13, 2012. The RO also granted a noncompensable rating for residual scar status post left ankle joint replacement surgery and denied service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities.