Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's hearing impairment has not met the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the most recent VA examination showing Level I hearing in both ears.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and clarify the onset of his conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is currently receiving a 20% disability rating since the effective date of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The Board found that there is no evidence showing bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus were incurred in service, and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board found that the appellant was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to attaining age 18, and thus denied his claim for DIC benefits based on permanent incapacity for self-support.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of malaria, and peripheral nerve damage of the lower extremities were granted. The Veteran was also assigned a 20 percent disability rating for his thoracolumbar strain effective September 10, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as he did not meet the current disability requirement under VA regulations. The Board found that his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a current right ear hearing loss disability at any time during the pendency of the claim or otherwise. For the status post left tibia stress fracture with patellofemoral syndrome, the Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating effective January 15, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board is unable to establish a link between the Veteran's current disabilities and her military service, including exposure to noise during service. For the low back disability and loss of teeth issues, further development is needed as there are insufficient records in the file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his service. The claim for PTSD was granted based on credible evidence linking it to his service.

The Veteran's request for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, left hand jungle rot, and right shoulder condition is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current level of hearing acuity does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of reopening his right ear hearing loss claim and denying a compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss. The Veteran does not meet the threshold minimum requirements for ratable hearing loss disability in either ear, as per VA regulations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which was previously denied in July and August 2000. The Board found no relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss and his inservice noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service acoustic trauma.,For his skin disability claim, additional medical opinion is needed as well as obtaining any available outstanding private treatment records.