Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is service-connected, while his left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability prior to December 12, 2014, and increased the rating to 20 percent thereafter. As of June 9, 2015, he is entitled to a maximum 40 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to noise during his aircraft instrument repair duties. As such, the appeal for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a separate compensable rating for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were dismissed as they are not assignable due to lack of timely appeal or submission of new evidence.,The claim for new and material evidence for prostatitis was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the competent and credible evidence weighs against the claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher initial rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private medical records.

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

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The VA examiners found no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions, or that they are not related to service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a current hearing loss disability under VA criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his occupational functioning. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular rating will also be remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, and there is no evidence to support a higher rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against his claim for an initial compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current Meniere's disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to service or any other service-connected disability.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral vision impairment, bilateral hearing loss, acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and heart condition due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to in-service noise exposure, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including consideration of whether higher ratings are warranted and whether entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) should be considered.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection based on evidence showing a current diagnosis, in-service acoustic trauma, and continuity of symptomatology.