Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to service, specifically his exposure to noise during active duty in Vietnam. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was addressed but remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus began in service and have continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been reopened, and he is now entitled to a rating of 50 percent for his headache disability. The Veteran's TBI has also been rated at the maximum schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus was first documented postservice and is not shown to be related to service. The left foot disability, diagnosed as metatarsalgia, has no chronic manifestation in the service records.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left foot disability are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is etiologically related to noise exposure during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Board finds that the pre-existing right ear hearing loss was aggravated by his period of active service, and therefore grants service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, but have been granted based on direct service connection due to noise exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, pharyngitis with recurrent strep throat, and left long finger disability due to lack of evidence of a current disability.

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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence shows that the Veteran had in-service noise exposure, experienced symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus during service, and continues to have these conditions post-service. As such, the criteria for direct service connection are met.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss results in no worse than Level II hearing acuity in the right ear and Level I hearing acuity in the left ear, resulting in a zero percent disability evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by level I hearing acuity in both ears, resulting in a non-compensable rating. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's bilateral high frequency hearing loss was evaluated and found to be at Level II in both ears, warranting a noncompensable rating. The VA examiner noted that the Veteran had difficulty hearing with background noise but could still perform daily activities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty. The claim for a higher rating for incomplete paralysis of the left lower extremity remains pending, but no specific rating is assigned in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing at the time of retirement and no evidence of noise exposure during service. The Veteran's hearing loss was deemed less likely than not caused by or a result of in-service noise exposure.