Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, but denied service connection for residuals of a deviated septum.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and possibly a new VA audiological examination.

The Board found it not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warranted a 70% rating prior to February 11, 2011. The effective date cannot be earlier than the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred up to one year prior to when the claim for increase was received.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The appeal will be returned to the RO after the hearing is conducted.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Munroe Regional Hospital on December 15, 2012 were denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency care under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his audiogram records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or bilateral tinnitus disability that is etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a Statement of the Case must be issued for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran will have 60 days to file a substantive appeal or these claims will not be certified to the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his in-service injury. The appeal of service connection for a back disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss prior to January 22, 2010, as the increase in severity can be factually ascertained from December 26, 2006.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left knee, hearing loss, and tinnitus. High cholesterol and hypertension are not considered disabilities under VA law.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his PTSD, tinnitus and headaches, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and determined that there is new and material evidence. The Board also found that his pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by his military service, but concluded that he did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of a permanent worsening.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by no worse than Level I hearing impairment in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease s/p stent placement, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.