Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially granted and rated at 10 percent prior to March 6, 2015. From September 7, 2012, to March 6, 2015, the rating was increased to 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to reconcile discrepancies in audiometric and speech discrimination test results. The Veteran's representative will also be given an opportunity to submit written argument.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and left ear hearing loss are not related to his service, and therefore denied these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, with a finding of continuity of symptoms from service. Therefore, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right finger posttraumatic degenerative joint disease was denied as the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation.,Service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss were both denied due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for tinnitus was also denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied as his disability level does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. However, it denied these claims as there was no evidence linking the conditions to military service.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is at least as likely as not the result of an in-service event or injury, and the Board finds that the Veteran's statements are competent and credible. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is also found to be related to service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his current disability levels.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability during service or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70% rating. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, hypertension, right ear hearing loss, and asthma have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an in-service incident or event related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of left ankle problem and right ankle problem are remanded due to a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, the left ear hearing loss disability was not shown to be aggravated by service, thus denying service connection for this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not have its onset in service or within a presumptive period, and is not etiologically related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not begin during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of a significant threshold shift in either ear during service. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.