Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the inability to obtain an in-prison audiological examination for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran will be provided with a VA audiologist review of his June 2014 and March 2015 audiological examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not manifest during a period of service or for many years thereafter, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus. The right ear hearing loss claim remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in service, is not otherwise a result of a disease or injury incurred in service, and was not incurred within a year of active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not originate in service or within a year of discharge, and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for clarification of speech test used by private audiologists and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records related to his bilateral hearing loss. The case will also be reviewed in light of any new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for clarification on the impact of his service-connected conditions and nonservice-connected substance abuse disorder on his employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was manifested by no worse than Level I hearing impairment in both ears throughout the period on appeal. The criteria for a compensable initial rating have not been met.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70% disabling since June 25, 2008 and the Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining STRs and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding no nexus between in-service acoustic trauma and current hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and tinnitus as presumed due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's sinus condition has been rated at 10 percent prior to July 13, 2011 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to active service. The VA examiners concluded that any increase in disability was due to natural progression.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on February 15, 2012 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center were denied as the treatment was not rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

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 condition.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left ear hearing loss has been denied. The claims for effective dates earlier than March 7, 2015, for the grant of service connection for head scars associated with post-operative, cavernous vascular malformation with epileptic seizures have also been denied.