Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to noise during his military duties.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as 0 percent disabling throughout the appeal period, with no evidence of any exceptional patterns or other factors warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to July 23, 2015 and upgraded to 20 percent effective from that date. The higher rating is granted as the evidence shows a worsening of his hearing impairment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, type II diabetes, and nephrolithiasis. However, these claims were subsequently denied on the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable, as he has been able to work in positions where he could use his hearing aids. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these disabilities prohibit the Veteran from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations and a need for further analysis regarding the significance of audiometric findings from service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic hearing loss disability in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as there was not sufficient medical evidence to establish a link between his current bilateral hearing loss and his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, residuals of an insect bite to the left groin (claimed as a knot on the leg), and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression and anxiety).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was incurred in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no causal link found between the Veteran's tinnitus and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected, but his left elbow disability is not. The claim for a left elbow disability was denied as it is less likely than not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by Level I hearing acuity in both ears, which warrants a zero percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6100. Therefore, an increased rating beyond 10 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status has been denied as he does not require regular aid and assistance from another person due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a clinical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and knee disorders, and providing an appropriate supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and traumatic brain injury have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his low back disability, right leg L5 radiculopathy, and service-connected right ear hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.

The Veteran's left eye disorder, sleep apnea and insomnia, and right ear hearing loss are not service-connected. The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for the left eye disorder due to VA treatment in August 1989. Service connection was also denied for the Veteran's sleep disorder and right ear hearing loss.