Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic Sinusitis/Allergic Rhinitis, and Residuals of Right Leg Injury (Punji Stick Wound). Bilateral Hearing Loss is not considered a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification of private audiological examination results.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether COPD is related to his active duty service, but did not find new and material evidence in support of reopening a claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD and awarded TDIU, but his hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from December 16, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's tinnitus had onset in service and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The other issues on appeal are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's foot and knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability, are not currently addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he did not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss. His claim for an initial compensable evaluation for left knee strain is remanded due to the need for additional examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability in either case.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was manifested by Level I hearing acuity in both ears, with speech discrimination ability of 100 percent in the right ear and 96 percent in the left ear. The VA examinations did not indicate any impairment warranting a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have residuals of a mild TBI other than PTSD, migraine headaches, and tinnitus. His bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was also not shown to meet VA criteria for disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria, and the exposure basis was deemed insufficient.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure to noise in the boiler room, engine room, and generator room without hearing protection. As a result, the appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by level II hearing on the right and level I hearing on the left, resulting in a zero percent disability evaluation. The Board finds that this does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as his current conditions are not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that new evidence did not establish a current disability or link it to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service combat exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss and PTSD has been granted. Right ear hearing loss remains pending. The Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent for PTSD.