Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not service connected. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for tinnitus secondary to bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, combine to render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment since April 6, 2015. His diabetes requires regulation of dietary activities but not restriction of physical activities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience, effective from July 11, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity and etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service and therefore, denies his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete service department records. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for the Veteran's back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or skin disorder and denied all service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, now rated as bilateral hearing loss, does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation based on audiometric test results.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability in service and denied the claim for bilateral hearing loss.,Pneumonia is not considered a disease incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted, but the initial ratings assigned are less than what he seeks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss had its onset during service and is granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination for his hair loss disability. The remaining claims are also being remanded as the RO has not yet issued an SOC.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss since June 6, 2013 is being remanded due to the need for additional development including an updated VA audiometric examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The hypertension claim was denied as the current rating is appropriate, and the coronary artery disease prior to January 1, 2014 claim was denied due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a higher rating. The left ear hearing loss claim was denied as it does not meet the compensable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability should be December 30, 2013. This is based on evidence showing the Veteran's hearing loss began at least as early as January 2, 2003 and one year prior to the date of receipt of his application for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his service for bilateral hearing loss, and there is insufficient evidence linking any diagnosed eye conditions or psychiatric condition to his military service. As such, the claims are denied.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as his hearing acuity is level III in each ear.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable since May 30, 2003. The most recent VA examination in October 2010 showed no improvement and still resulted in a noncompensable rating.