Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet VA disability criteria and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and scars of the knees have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of noise exposure during service, and there is no objective evidence of a significant threshold shift beyond normal measurement variability during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there was no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran is therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that there was clear and unmistakable error in denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which would have been granted if not for the error. The effective date is set at October 30, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting talipes cavus was aggravated by his active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for bilateral talipes cavus. However, there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent from July 30, 2013 to the present. His impairment of rectal sphincter control with fecal incontinence has been rated as 10 percent since January 3, 2014.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss had its onset in service and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they were not incurred during or as a result of his military service. The lung disability is service-connected, but the Board finds that it is not related to his in-service pneumonia.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 1, 2015, and in excess of 60 percent thereafter is denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on the current state of his hearing impairment.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted service connection based on evidence showing a relationship between the Veteran's military service and his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The appeals for actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

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

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not the result of in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and did not manifest within one year of separation, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were not rated higher than the current 30 percent assigned.,His left foot bunion with pes planus was rated at 30 percent prior to August 14, 2015 and his bilateral flat feet are currently rated at 30 percent from that date.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted service connection for a left thumb injury with a non-compensable rating. The Veteran's bilateral foot disability (other than pes planus) was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied, but his left ear hearing loss is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the scheduled hearing.