Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's hearing loss claim was denied. His left knee disability received a noncompensable evaluation, while his lumbar spine arthritis and GERD were both denied service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss has been denied. The Board is remanding the issue of service connection for a right knee disorder due to further development being required.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as audiometric evaluations did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, with pure tone thresholds and speech discrimination scores indicating Level I or II hearing acuity in both ears. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within a presumptive period, and is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran asserts that he experienced tinnitus since mid-1971 due to exposure to loud engine noise while driving a truck with a refrigeration unit in service. After reviewing the evidence, including a December 2008 private opinion and a November 2008 VA examination, the Board finds it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The VA examinations did not support a finding of current disabilities for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable prior to May 29, 2014 and at a 10 percent evaluation since then. The Board found the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and whether it is related to his active duty service. The case will be reviewed again after all necessary actions are completed.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, manifested by dislocation of the clavicle or scapula with no evidence of impairment of the humerus, ankylosis, or limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, is rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5203.

The Board has decided to remand the case for clarification of test results related to the Veteran's hearing loss evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service, including exposure to noise. The VA examiner found that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are not at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The evidence does not show a current disability for VA purposes within one year of separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied. The remaining claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and noise exposure history.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss are service-connected based on direct evidence of a current disability, as evidenced by audiometric testing results. The effective date is not specified.