Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to failure to report for a VA examination and Board hearing, and the need to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the other issues on appeal.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from May 31, 2014 forward. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not otherwise related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional records and provide a new VA audiology examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims of higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence in the service medical records to support a finding of hearing loss or tinnitus during service. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for further development, including obtaining his service personnel records and any relevant post-service VA or non-VA clinical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and HPV due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or a link between her military service and these conditions.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 1, 2015, and in excess of 30 percent since that date is denied. The issue of increased ratings for the right knee disability is pending.

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since March 4, 2011. The rating is based on the severity of his hearing impairment as determined by audiometric testing and speech recognition scores.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss was denied as the audiometric testing did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since April 6, 2015. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing acuity and speech recognition scores do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and right ear disability to include otitis media with eustachian tube dysfunction are not related to his active service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requests for additional medical records, lay statements, and readjudication of the hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's chronic joint disability, including rheumatoid arthritis, and kidney disease are found to be related to service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service or service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent since June 27, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a significant threshold shift between the Veteran's enlistment and separation audiometric tests, concluding that his current bilateral hearing loss is less likely related to military service.