Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss and skin disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, stomach ulcers, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) were denied as there is no current evidence of a ratable disability for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not incurred in service, including from acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The AOJ will obtain any outstanding VA treatment records, give the Veteran another opportunity to provide relevant private medical records, and then adjudicate the claims again.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss was not present in service or until many years thereafter and is not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not originate in service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus at separation from service. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by noise exposure during military service.

The Board has restored service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the Veteran's TDIU claim remains pending as severance of service connection was not proper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and post-service treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its origins during his active service and the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The hearing loss claim remains pending as it has not been addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable due to the absence of any impairment that warrants a higher rating under VA's schedular criteria.

The Board has determined that the issue of whether the Veteran should receive a separate rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury as noted in the February 2013 TBI examination report, based on the level of impairment in the facets of cognitive impairment and other residuals of TBI, has been raised by the record. The case is also remanded to return the claims file to the examiner who provided the aid and attendance/housebound opinion in February 2013 or reschedule for another VA examination if feasible.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most severe level being Level I in both ears. The Board finds that his current disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as his symptoms had their onset during service.

The Veteran's hearing acuity was consistently at Level II in both ears throughout the appeal period, resulting in a noncompensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at the maximum allowable under DC 5271, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, which represents the highest available rating under DC 5276. A higher or separate rating is not warranted without evidence of ankylosis, astragalectomy (the surgical removal of the talus bone), or malunion of os calcis or astragulus bones.,The Veteran's left knee bursitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable DCs. The highest available rating is 10 percent under DC 5284, as it is rated as 'other foot injury'.,Bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at zero percent and no higher ratings are warranted based on the provided information.