Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, the highest available rating under VA regulations for this condition. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability. The preponderance of the evidence was against granting any higher rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as to clarify whether the Veteran currently experiences symptoms of tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and his psychiatric disorder is unrelated to service. His hearing loss disability was not shown during service or at present, meeting VA criteria for a disability. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to be related to military noise exposure.,Service connection for a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), hearing loss, and tinnitus has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a Statement of the Case regarding the tinnitus claim.

The appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The Veteran's claims will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and his tinnitus is not service-connected.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection effective July 18, 2012. The Board found no legal basis for an earlier effective date or a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is presumed to have been incurred during active duty service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a low back disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's hearing loss, as evaluated using the worst available scores, was manifested by no greater than a level V loss in each ear. The criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent are not met.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, meibomian gland dysfunction, and right foot pes planus. Further development is needed to address the remaining issues.

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

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be service-connected. The issue of an increased rating for right ear hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision.

The Veteran's paralysis and left ear hearing loss are not considered to be caused by the VA medical treatment he received in 1966.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA audiologic examination and referral to the Director for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found to warrant a compensable rating prior to December 3, 2013. Since then, the disability has been rated at 10 percent since that date.