Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is not manifested by a level of hearing acuity necessary for a compensable rating. The Veteran's ear disability is manifested by chronic ear infections in addition to mild sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to inconsistencies in his hearing examination and a need for further evaluation of his right knee condition. The Veteran will be provided with additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service, including noise exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disorder, hearing loss disability (both ears), tinnitus, and calcaneal spurs are denied.,Service connection is granted for bilateral calcaneal spurs. The Veteran asserts that symptoms of the condition began during service in 2010 while deployed to Africa.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing before the Board.

The Veteran seeks service connection for right ear hearing loss, which he contends is related to military noise exposure. The VA has determined that the current right ear hearing loss was not at least as likely as not caused by or a result of an event in military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss from August 24, 2011 was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and is therefore dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of headaches as moot due to a grant of service connection for traumatic brain injury. The claims for hearing loss and low back disorder with bilateral sciatica were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or the first post-service year.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, vitreous floaters of the right eye, and right hip sciatica have been granted. The initial rating for right hip sciatica remains in appellate status.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service noise exposure. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms within a year after discharge. However, the Veteran's testimony regarding the onset of his tinnitus during service supports a finding that it is related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, specifically addressing his in-service acoustic trauma and the study cited by his representative. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have onset during his active service, was not caused by his active service and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not otherwise related to his military service.