Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to noise exposure in service and has been granted. The status of the hernia and back disability claims remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, left eyebrow scar, tuberculosis and/or residuals thereof, and bilateral rib injuries as there was no evidence of chronic disabilities resulting from these conditions in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The specific conditions and service connection theories are not addressed as the appeal does not pertain to these matters.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his current hearing disability and in-service noise exposure.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of meningitis, but denied entitlement to an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to April 11, 2017 and increased to a 10 percent rating effective from April 11, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a videoconference hearing, and no rating decision or effective date is provided.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of additional compensation for his dependent wife and daughter was denied as proof of dependency was not provided within one year of the happening of the change in dependency or within one year of any qualifying rating decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to August 2, 2013, and increased to 50 percent beginning on that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the evidence showing in-service noise exposure as a machinist and construction supervisor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues are whether the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that are related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms within one year post-service. The Board also found that the March 2016 VA examination was adequate and supported by the medical literature.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus was also denied as service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the objective medical evidence, which shows no significant improvement in his hearing loss over time and does not demonstrate any exceptional patterns of hearing impairment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his military service, while his hearing loss was not.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 11, 2008 for TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable solely at that time.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this disability.