Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a separate and distinct left knee disability from his currently service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus based on exposure to acoustic trauma during service and continuous symptoms since separation. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine strain, right knee strain, and left knee strain are remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis C or bilateral hearing loss disability related to his military service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such during service. The VA examinations did not find a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain VA treatment records and afford him a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including an appropriate VA examination to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss disability have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and medical inquiry, including a VA examination to evaluate his hearing loss and heart condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure in service and grants this claim. The low back disorder claim remains pending as a VA examination was not conducted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the word list used in his speech discrimination tests, and an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, as the current opinion is inadequate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board found that the appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their inception during his active service or for many years thereafter, and established that they are not causally related to his active service. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 10% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, and the case must be remanded to obtain his VA treatment records from March 2011 to October 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service, thus granting service connection for these conditions. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus. The claim of service connection for vertigo remains pending.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's appeal is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues regarding claimant substitution eligibility and the effective dates for service connection grants of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned to the Board after contested claim procedures are completed.

The Board has granted service connection for sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear, representing a complete grant of the benefit sought on appeal.