Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records, including a temporary claims file that may contain evidence related to the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. Bilateral hearing loss was denied as it was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran is not entitled to an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent at any point during the pendency of this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. However, there is no evidence of a right ear hearing disorder during the period under appellate review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not manifest during his military service and there is no evidence of a nexus between the in-service noise exposure and the current condition.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, as the VA examiner concluded that it was more likely due to presbycusis (age-related hearing loss).,However, the Veteran and his spouse have consistently reported continuous tinnitus since active service. The private physician provided a positive nexus opinion linking the Veteran's current tinnitus to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and back disability have been denied. The Board has ordered a remand due to the Veteran not receiving proper notice of his scheduled videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran does not have sufficient bilateral hearing loss in his ears to be considered a disability by VA standards, and thus service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not established.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current disability was incurred during military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss and his military service. The appeal is now pending for further development.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including verification of service and issuance of a statement of the case on the issues of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD renders him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a TDIU. The earlier effective date for the increased rating of 20% for bilateral hearing loss is set at July 31, 2007.

The Veteran's hearing loss and scar from liver transplant are not rated higher than the current noncompensable ratings, with no compensable rating for hearing loss prior to March 17, 2015, and a 10 percent rating since then. The Veteran's scar is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current tinnitus was incurred during service. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable since July 2009. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as the audiometric results do not show a pattern consistent with noise exposure and the Veteran reported that his hearing problems began approximately 20 years after service discharge.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not indicate a relationship between these conditions and service.