Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no evidence of any exceptional or unusual disability picture that would warrant an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right arm with brachial plexus and residual right median neuropathy is denied. The Board finds that his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 20 percent disabling from September 10, 2008 to October 2, 2011.

The appeal is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further information and compliance with duties to notify and assist. A VA examination will be conducted to assess the Veteran's functional impairment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a left knee condition, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions manifested during service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was not addressed due to lack of claim.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50% effective April 29, 2015. Prior to that date, the rating is 30%. The Veteran does not have service connection for left eye pain or right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus granted service connection for both conditions.

The appellant has withdrawn her appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and the Board finds that there are no further questions to be addressed.

The Veteran has withdrawn all of the claims on appeal, and as such, the appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent for the entire rating period on appeal, as it does not exceed levels contemplated for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed by the November 2009 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for hearing loss in the left ear was not warranted, and therefore restored the original service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, hygroma (claimed as fluid on the brain), deviated septum, sleep apnea, PTSD and dysthymic disorder has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal will be remanded to allow for further development of the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his alleged radiation exposure and obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA audiological evaluation to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, specifically noise exposure. The examiner must consider and discuss the previous opinion that his current hearing loss configuration is not consistent with in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his military service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded.