Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; a right shoulder disability; bilateral hearing loss; degenerative disc disease; and hypertension from appellate status.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability and hypertension, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction (ED). The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion regarding the relationship between his right eye cataract and service-connected diabetes mellitus. The RO must also issue a statement of the case addressing the denial of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is likely due to in-service exposure to significant acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than July 21, 2006 for the award of a TDIU is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examination of his bilateral hearing loss and a Statement of the Case regarding the reopening of his claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board. The issues include service connection for PTSD, an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to normal audiometric findings at separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from November 20, 2009 has been denied as his puretone threshold average does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the November 2009 VA examination report and the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with disc protrusions, finding that the evidence is sufficient to establish a current disability and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of his sleep disorder and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. Bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be present within one year of separation from service, and there is no evidence linking it to military noise exposure. Tinnitus, however, began during service and continues to this day.

The Board has granted service connection for gastrointestinal disability, irritable colon syndrome, and skin disability. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is also found to be related to service. Service connection for sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains pending.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated as noncompensable since June 4, 2010. Effective November 1, 2011, the Veteran is now rated at 50 percent for his migraine headaches.,From November 1, 2011, the Veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in a combined disability rating of 70 percent or more, qualifying him for consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable rating, as his current level of hearing impairment is at Level II in both ears.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his request for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus was not addressed in this decision.