Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. Bilateral hearing loss was not shown within one year of separation from service, but the Veteran has credible reports of in-service noise exposure and current tinnitus. Service connection for tinnitus is granted as it originated during service.

The Veteran's appeals regarding an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus and service connection for hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset during his period of service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation prior to December 3, 2010 and in excess of 10 percent from December 3, 2010 for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the criteria set forth in the Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and unspecified mild neurocognitive disorder have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions and established a nexus to his active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted, with the Board finding that his current conditions are related to military noise exposure.

The Board finds the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss as defined by VA regulations. The left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are found to be related to active duty service.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is manifested by pain, instability, limitation of motion, and functional loss that more closely approximates moderate limitation of motion.

The Board found that the Veteran's earaches and hearing loss are not related to service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim for service connection. The claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder) are also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen her claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and a left knee disability. She is also granted service connection for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation basis and for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since July 18, 2012. The evidence does not support a higher rating for the entire initial rating period.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was found to have a level II hearing and speech recognition of 94 percent, resulting in a noncompensable evaluation. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for hearing loss service connection was denied as there is no evidence of a prior unadjudicated request to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed right ear hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. However, it denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability within one year post-service and no causal link between active service and the condition.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, effective December 18, 2014. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date was denied. An effective date of March 7, 2011, has been granted for the award of service connection for lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure.