Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is likely related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board at the earliest available opportunity. The issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and service connection for a respiratory disability, to include as a result of asbestos exposure remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records. The Veteran's hearing loss disability may have worsened since his last VA examination in August 2013.

The Veteran's current diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically the acoustic trauma he experienced as an aircraft mechanic. The Board finds that service connection is warranted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is service-connected, and he will be assigned a numeric designation for bilateral hearing impairment based on puretone threshold average and speech discrimination in each ear under Table VI. A percentage evaluation for bilateral hearing impairment will then be assigned under 38 C.F.R. § 4.85.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service, and his neck condition is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by a contusion sustained in service. Therefore, both conditions are granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's National Guard service meets the threshold service requirement for potential receipt of VA compensation benefits, allowing him to pursue claims for service connection on the merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during or as a result of active military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records from SSA and VA, as well as any private providers. The claims will be adjudicated again in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for consideration of an extra-schedular rating due to the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal is also remanded for further development regarding service connection issues.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the disability did not warrant a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 12, 2013 and 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO. The issues include increased ratings for spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with left sciatica and hypertension, service connection for acid reflux, depression, and a skin rash, and an earlier effective date for total disability rating based on individual unemployability and Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are not related to his military service. The Board also found no evidence of a compensable degree of hearing loss in the right ear within one year after separation from service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities or right ear hearing loss to his active duty service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied, as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted a higher rating than 40 percent.,The effective date of the grant of a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was set at September 25, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and bilateral hearing loss are both incurred in active service.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder with anxiety, is granted. However, his claims for a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and left knee instability are denied.

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