Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board finds that the Veteran's current conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various orthopedic disabilities, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his active service and these conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of the claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine, left lower extremity, bilateral hearing loss, and hemorrhoid disabilities, as well as entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 29, 2016 was granted with a 40 percent disability rating.,For the period from April 29, 2016 onwards, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes in his right ear and therefore cannot establish service connection. For his left ear, while he meets the criteria for a current hearing loss disability under VA regulations, there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease resulting in such a disability. The Board also found that tinnitus was not incurred during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a scheduled hearing, and the Veteran's testimony may be relevant to his claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for earlier effective date, higher initial ratings for trigeminal neuralgia, and increased ratings for fibromyalgia/myofascial pain syndrome, postoperative residuals, hypermotility of bilateral temporal mandibular joints, and bilateral hearing loss with vertigo.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the appellant's bilateral hearing loss, including a lack of in-service noise exposure documentation and an inadequate VA medical opinion. The appellant is requested to provide additional records and undergo a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested, at its worst, by Level I hearing in both ears. Therefore, a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and finds no evidence of tinnitus that is related to service. As such, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and gastroenteritis were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran was found to have bilateral hearing loss during service, which meets the criteria for service connection under VA regulations.,Tinnitus was established based on the Veteran's credible contentions that he has had this condition since service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, as it was noted during his first period of active duty and did not worsen during his second period of service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board also dismissed the claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral spine disability due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of worsening from October 14, 2009 to September 14, 2012.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and bilateral hearing loss. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is service-connected, but his claims for initial compensable evaluations for right wrist tendonitis and left ear hearing loss are denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran experienced noise exposure during service, current audiometry testing shows left ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and the evidentiary record makes it equally likely that the hearing loss is a result of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these claims.