Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as it is currently rated at Level II in each ear.

The Board has recharacterized the issues as entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The appellant does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and therefore, her claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are REMANDED to obtain a VA examination to address whether these conditions arose in service or are otherwise related to service.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including service verification and obtaining complete service and personnel records. The Veteran's claims for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and gastrointestinal disorder are being remanded to the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss did not manifest to a degree of ten percent or more within one year after separation from service, and therefore does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection. The low back disability was not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his service, including in-service acoustic trauma and chronic exposure to loud noises during his Vietnam deployment. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a separate compensable evaluation for right knee subluxation. The Veteran's chondromalacia of the right knee is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional records from the Veteran's employer at the VAMC in Erie, Pennsylvania. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability, and therefore, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to satisfaction with the increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral residuals of tympanic membrane perforation and bilateral hearing loss disability do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under applicable rating criteria. The noncompensable ratings assigned are appropriate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes. However, he is granted service connection for right ear hearing loss as it is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of military noise exposure.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service. The case is being remanded for further review.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss began in service and has persisted since, granting service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fractured left ankle are rated at 10 percent, and his non-service connected right ear hearing loss disability is assigned a numeric designation of I. The combined numeric designations do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete factual basis in the previous VA examination, requiring an addendum opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to increased evaluations for anxiety disorder and headaches. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not meet criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.