Hearing loss decisions — 2015

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of frostbite on hands and feet, and an anxiety disorder (claimed as depression) secondary to the service-connected back injury with degenerative arthritis. The claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected back injury was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is as likely as not a result of noise exposure during his military service.,Service connection was also granted for bilateral hearing loss based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and the need for a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and missing private treatment records. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being reviewed for possible service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no decisions were made regarding the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, vision loss, sleep apnea, neck disorder, back/spine disorder, and bronchitis, were denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss disability. The issues regarding left knee disorder, right foot disorder, and PTSD with alcohol abuse and a sleep disturbance have been addressed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder have not been granted service connection or increased rating.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a hearing disability, including bilateral hearing loss and hyperacusis, to the RO for development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not manifest in service or within one year of service and is not etiologically related to service. The right ear hearing loss is manifested by an average decibel loss of 50 and a speech recognition score of no less than 88 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was found to have been manifested by no worse than Level I hearing in the right ear and Level III hearing on the left prior to January 2013. Beginning in January 2013, his disability picture more nearly approximated that of Level V hearing in each ear.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, effective April 8, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not show a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for the period from August 23, 2011 through December 25, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

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

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left wrist disability was granted. For bilateral hearing loss, a noncompensable evaluation prior to May 22, 2014 and a 30% evaluation thereafter is granted. For the left wrist disability, a 30% evaluation is granted.

The Board found that the appellant's periods of AWOL following his tour in Vietnam were conducted under compelling circumstances, and thus did not constitute willful and persistent misconduct. As a result, the character of the appellant's active duty service does not constitute a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD, which is considered a direct service connection as no presumption or secondary condition was established. The other conditions are still under consideration.