Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the most recent evaluation showing Level III Roman numeral designation for the right ear and Level II designation for the left ear.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a cold injury for right and left hand was denied, as there is no competent evidence that he currently has such disabilities. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

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

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and has existed since then, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and obtaining outstanding medical records. The case will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been manifested by no worse than level II hearing in the right ear and level III hearing in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn by his representative. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review this issue and it is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling, effective September 22, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable evaluation prior to this date.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss related to noise exposure during his active duty in the U.S. Army from March 1967 to December 1968, including service in Vietnam. The VA examiner found no reasonable basis for delayed-onset hearing loss and concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not related to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service. Therefore, service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the evidence shows in-service acoustic trauma, continuous symptoms since service separation, and current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to his symptoms being within the range of normal hearing. For insomnia, the Board found that it was aggravated by active duty service and granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested, at its worst, by Level II hearing in the right ear and Level III in the left ear. The criteria for an initial, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.