Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and unclear explanations regarding previous audiometric testing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating under the applicable schedular criteria. The claim for service connection for a seizure disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Appellant can be substituted as a claimant for her deceased husband's pending claims. If substitution is denied, the AOJ will readjudicate the Veteran's pending claims for accrued benefits purposes only. If substitution is granted, the AOJ should provide adequate notice and conduct any additional development deemed necessary.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at the highest available level (50%) based on his exceptional pattern of hearing impairment, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tension headaches, GERD, and loose bowels have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical records to assess the severity of his posttraumatic stress disorder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the effective date is set at June 11, 2008, which is when VA received his initial application. The Veteran argued that he submitted his application earlier in April 2008, but there is no evidence to support this claim.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 20 percent to noncompensable effective June 1, 2009 was not proper.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during or as a result of his military service, and thus denied these claims. For the lumbar condition, the Board determined there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology from service to present, and therefore denied this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA audiology examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Veteran's claim for payment of medical expenses incurred at Banner Gateway Medical Center from March 18 to March 20, 2013 is granted as he met the criteria for reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as zero percent disabling, and the Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, effective from the date of the October 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board finds that the current disabilities are related to exposure to acoustic trauma during active service.,Service connection is pending for right ear sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and left shoulder disability were denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The remaining issues, including service connection for various conditions, are currently in a pending status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to acoustic trauma incurred during his military service.