Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure and that his hearing impairment began more than 40 years after discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent since July 15, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear was denied. For PTSD, an initial evaluation of 30 percent prior to November 5, 2009 and an increased rating from January 12, 2010 through September 17, 2014 were granted but not more than 50 percent after that date. The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis was rated at 10 percent prior to September 18, 2014 and 30 percent beginning from that date.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and right foot fracture due to incomplete development. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the etiology of his hearing loss and addressing the propriety of his PTSD rating reduction. The appeal is also remanded to allow the Veteran to perfect an appeal regarding the PTSD rating reduction.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and prostate cancer. However, the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for these conditions remains denied as there is no competent medical evidence establishing a direct relationship between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for right ear hearing loss, bilateral hand disability, and higher initial ratings for iliotibial band syndrome of the right knee and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is a result of in-service acoustic trauma and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board finds the Veteran's assertions of in-service ringing, even without a contemporaneous notation of such, credible.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with a noncompensable rating assigned for residuals of pericarditis.,Service connection for residuals of pericarditis was not granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss.

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

The Veteran's service connection claim for a peripheral vestibular disorder and bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed peripheral vestibular disorder, and his reported symptoms were attributed to other causes.

The Veteran's enlarged prostate and bilateral hearing loss were not found to be service-connected. The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 0% prior to March 13, 2014, and increased to 10% thereafter.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be adjudicated. The Veteran's scheduled VA examination was not conducted due to his failure to report, but the RO will attempt to schedule a new examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disorders, a ganglion cyst of the left wrist, a right wrist disorder, and migraine headaches. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA regulations.,The Veteran has submitted new evidence that relates to his claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, which have been reopened. However, there is no legal basis to assign a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss meets the criteria for a noncompensable disability rating based on VA audiometric examination results from March 2011.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been shown to warrant a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.