Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for vision loss due to a shell fragment wound and bilateral hearing loss are being reopened. However, the Board finds that additional development is needed as there are conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his right ear hearing loss, cholesteatoma, and vertigo were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, including consideration of his in-service exposure to noise and short-term hearing loss following close-range weapon fire.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened and is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA audiology examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not warrant any higher than level I hearing loss in both ears throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not occur during service or is not related to military noise exposure, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have developed during active service due to exposure to artillery fire. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and his PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.,The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a 70 percent or 100 percent evaluation under DC 9411.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD have been denied by the Board.

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

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his puretone thresholds did not meet criteria for a compensable rating based on the VA and private audiometric evaluations conducted during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not occur during service or is not related to military noise exposure, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete examination reports and lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The case is being remanded for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining retrospective opinions regarding his service-connected jaw condition, headache condition, and functional impairment related to his disabilities.