Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically the noise exposure he experienced while serving in the Navy.

The Board is remanding the case to consider the collective impact of all the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss disability, on his disability picture and whether it renders the schedular evaluations inadequate for an extra-schedular rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 0 percent (noncompensable) for the entire initial rating period from November 18, 2005. The evidence did not show that his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss warranted a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records from September 1971 to February 2001. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as to obtain all relevant VA medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not caused by or a result of his military service, including acoustic trauma suffered as a pioneer/combat engineer.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations. However, the Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide proper notice of a change in his hearing request. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence. The claim for left foot plantar fasciitis was not adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing personnel records and a need for additional audiometric evaluations. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his PTSD and left ear hearing loss were not rated higher than the assigned disability ratings, while his right ear hearing loss claim did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military service. Service connection for heat stroke due to Gulf War illness is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for refractive error of the eyes, right and left knee disorders, lumbar spine disorder, and macular hole of the right eye are also denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and his claims for special monthly pension and nonservice-connected pension are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, and no service connection was granted for his gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C, low back disability, peripheral neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that new evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for hepatitis C, and that there was no credible evidence linking these disabilities to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to the death of the claimant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.