Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted effective March 19, 2012. The appeals seeking earlier effective dates prior to this date are denied.,No service connection was established before March 19, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran died from cardiopulmonary arrest due to sepsis syndrome. The Board found that this condition was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The Veteran had a compensable rating prior to November 17, 2016 and an initial 20 percent rating from that date onwards.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service. The VA examinations did not find any link between his current conditions and service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to September 29, 2015. As of that date, the rating for his bilateral hearing loss is 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as Level I in both ears, corresponding to a 0 percent rating under the rating criteria of Table VII. The disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his left ear and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is less likely as not related to military noise exposure.

The Board has ordered a VA examination for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, but finds that the results are not reliable and may be due to non-organic hearing loss. The case is REMANDED for further development including obtaining additional audiometric test results and reviewing any follow-up treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at previously scheduled VA examinations and requests for additional evidence. The claims will be reconsidered after completing any necessary development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are not related to his military service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development due to a lack of review by the RO/AMC and because the Veteran's representative submitted private audiology examinations without a waiver. The appeal will be reviewed in light of these new submissions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

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

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable under the VA rating schedule, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have onset during active service, was not manifest within one year of separation from active duty, and was not caused by active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar and neck conditions have been granted service connection.,Increased ratings for CTS in both upper extremities are granted, with the right hand receiving a 30 percent rating effective February 18, 2016, and the left hand receiving a 20 percent rating from that date forward. The Veteran's loss of sense of taste is now rated as compensable.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been increased to 10 percent disabling since April 13, 2011.