Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left elbow fragment tip is rated at 10 percent. Service connection for his left shoulder condition, bilateral eye conditions, hearing loss, hypertension, and lipomas are granted. The acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is also granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were aggravated by his active duty service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain his military personnel records and determine if he was in combat or had duties consistent with noise exposure. The VA will schedule him for an audiological examination to assess whether his current hearing loss disability is related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran will be scheduled for a new TBI examination conducted by one of the four designated specialists.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of frostbite of the right leg was denied as there is no competent evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no legal basis to award more than the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable rating prior to February 25, 2014 and was rated as noncompensable. From February 25, 2014 to December 3, 2014, he was rated at 10 percent; from December 3, 2014, the rating remained at 20 percent.

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

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the service-connected right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, effective from the date of the claim. The Veteran's testimony and examination reports indicate that his hearing impairment significantly impacted his ability to work as a truck driver.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable since the initial grant of service connection in March 2010. The most recent VA examination did not show any improvement in his hearing loss, and his disability level remains at a Numeric Designation of II.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and consideration of his claim for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disability, residuals of a pilonidal cyst and surgery, left ear hearing loss, and bilateral lower extremity disability. The underlying de novo claims for service connection for hypertension and hyperlipidemia are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for a higher rating prior to May 21, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 24, 2012 for service connection of hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The effective date is set at October 24, 2012 due to a liberalizing change in the law.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since November 2, 2011. The most recent evaluations have shown average pure tone decibel hearing loss that exceeds the initial evaluation but do not warrant an increase in rating.