Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is considered to have started during his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating, as his current level of hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, the claims were not granted as there is no causal relationship between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and counseling evaluation folder. The inextricably intertwined psychiatric disorder claim will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI was reopened and granted, with an effective date of April 4, 2013.,A compensable rating (20%) is assigned for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from April 4, 2013.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and a higher rating is denied.,Sciatic nerve left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted with an initial rating of 10%, effective from January 13, 2011. The femoral nerve left lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted with an initial rating of 10%, effective from the same date.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus originated during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss issue is pending as it was not addressed in detail.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from the Veteran's primary care physician. The claims are not yet decided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide a comprehensive examination. The claims for service connection will be reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service. The Veteran's in-service drug overdose is considered the cause of his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional medical evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability, including consideration of in-service noise exposure and any link between his current tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination, outstanding SSA records, and consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's death was not directly related to service-connected conditions, and the appeal is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder was denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes at any time during the pendency of his claim. For the remaining conditions, a remand is necessary to afford the Veteran another VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy. The decision also addressed hypertension but did not specify a rating or effective date.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss was not present during active service, did not manifest within one year of discharge from service, and did not develop as a result of any incident during service. Therefore, the Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable (0%) since September 2006. The most recent VA audiological examination in March 2013 showed pure tone thresholds that correspond to a noncompensable evaluation.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not occur during service and is not related to his military noise exposure, leading to a denial of service connection.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss for VA compensation purposes, and thus service connection is denied.