Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has found that additional development is necessary and has ordered a Travel Board hearing to be scheduled for the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and bilateral pes planus were denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left hip degenerative joint disease was also denied.

The Veteran's hearing is manifested by no more than Level II hearing acuity bilaterally, and the criteria for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for hearing loss or an increased rating for tinnitus, and denied all other claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss had its onset in active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to address the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension has been withdrawn. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, obtain VA examinations, and secure outstanding records.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 90 percent prior to May 24, 2012. Effective May 24, 2012, the rating for his bilateral hearing loss was increased to 100 percent.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the PTSD claim. The right ankle and knee disability claims were denied, as new evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim, and there is no causal relationship between service and these disabilities. Hearing loss and tinnitus claims are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not more likely than not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating was sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ankle sprain with arthralgia. The Board found that these conditions precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, as there was no evidence of noise exposure or a hearing loss disability at separation from service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted with an effective date of July 18, 2012. The Board found that the original claim was received on August 6, 2010, and thus the earlier effective dates requested are not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete information and need for clarification of opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.