Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have manifested during active duty service and granted service connection. The case for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not causally related to noise exposure during active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not causally or etiologically related to service, thus denying the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No decisions were made on the merits of any claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is manifested by no worse than Level VIII hearing acuity in the right ear and no worse than Level IX hearing acuity in the left ear, warranting a 50% rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acoustic neuroma are not related to service, including noise exposure. The claim for tinnitus was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the worst level of hearing impairment being Level II in both ears.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The most recent VA examination did not show any improvement in his hearing impairment, and thus no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss has been rated as Level I since the effective date of service connection, which is not sufficient to warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus the criteria for a TDIU are not met.

The Board found that there has been no demonstration of frequent hospitalizations or marked interference with employment due to the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, and thus denied a higher rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral diabetic retinopathy with history of cataracts, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, lung disorder (bronchitis and asthma), and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including verifying the appellant's periods of active duty and inactive duty training in the Navy Reserve, scheduling a VA examination, and ensuring that all evidence is properly considered.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 20 percent was assigned for diabetes mellitus, which is the highest available under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple claims regarding various disabilities, including knee issues, psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, allergies, back pain, sciatica, and hearing loss. The case is being remanded for a live hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on the basis that they are related to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability meets VA criteria, and his private audiologists have provided opinions linking his hearing loss to military noise exposure. Tinnitus is considered a symptom of his hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is at least as likely as not etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, while his right ear hearing loss does not meet VA's requirements for a disability.