Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss. However, the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not found to be related to his military service.

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

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective February 3, 2010. He also received separate ratings of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy since February 26, 2010. His hallux valgus disabilities are rated at the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 5280. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is assigned a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including noise exposure while in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), as well as his claim for a higher initial rating for hypertension. The Board found that he did not have a ratable disability for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and perforated left tympanic membrane are not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or to a compensable degree within one year thereafter and has not been shown to be otherwise related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer residuals, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and other conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability as defined by VA regulations, and therefore service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's request for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the failure to schedule a videoconference hearing as requested. The case will be returned to the Board after scheduling the hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, specifically noise exposure during active duty. As a result, the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The appeal is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and for further examination.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be present during service or within one year of separation. There is no evidence of chronic symptoms since service separation, nor was there a diagnosis of these conditions until many years after separation. Therefore, the criteria for service connection are not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The decision also finds in favor of the Veteran regarding his claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted as of May 3, 2013. The claim for service connection for a deviated nasal septum is dismissed.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and no compensable rating is warranted based on the provided audiometric results.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its inception in service and persisted since, warranting the grant of service connection. The case is remanded for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss and PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.