Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, with current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and found no service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding the cumulative effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in service, were not exhibited within the first post-service year, and are not otherwise related to service. As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since February 16, 2012. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met and thus denies the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure on the flight line, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TBI was received on November 17, 2009. The effective date of service connection is assigned as of that date.,An increased evaluation to 30 percent for allergic rhinitis is granted beginning August 30, 2010.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection on a presumptive basis as it became manifest within one year of his separation from service. His claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus or any higher rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10% to noncompensable was proper, and denied the claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss since August 2, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and a VA industrial/occupational examination.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0%) due to the presence of Level VI hearing loss, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

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

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is as likely as not related to his active military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during his third period of active duty in Iraq. As a result, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional evidence, including a VA audiometric examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not shown to be related to his active military service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his service and may not be presumed to have been due to noise exposure during his military service.