Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of a higher initial disability rating for tinnitus was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The November 2016 rating decision granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and assigned a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss effective April 15, 2013. The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to a higher than 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service. The case is therefore REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's spouse was not assigned as a dependent due to outdated information. The effective date for the assignment of his spouse as a dependent is denied.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his military service.,Service connection for both bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA evaluations and treatment records, as well as an audiological evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, including noise exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder and denied his claim for service connection. The hearing loss claim is pending further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during his active service, were not caused by his active service, and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. As such, he is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not been manifested by worse than a Level II hearing loss in his right ear and a Level IV hearing loss in his left ear, resulting in a disability rating of 0 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been manifested by no worse than Level II hearing in the right ear and Level II hearing in the left ear. The criteria for a compensable evaluation have not been met.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been manifested by a Level I hearing loss in his right ear and a Level II hearing loss in his left ear. The Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss at any time during the period under review.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.,There is no competent evidence linking the current left wrist strain to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is presumed to have been incurred in combat, while his hearing loss remains unassigned.