Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted a 10% rating for the residual scar from shell fragment wound to the back, effective January 12, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,For the effective date claim, the Board found that prior to January 24, 2009, the Veteran's left shoulder injury with degenerative changes did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and has existed since then, meeting the criteria for service connection. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service, was not caused by an event, injury, or disease in service, and is unrelated to his previously service-connected tinnitus. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on his pure tone thresholds and speech discrimination scores.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. As such, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and vertigo are proximately due to her service-connected tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of clear and unmistakable error in a March 1997 rating decision, as well as failure to meet criteria for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 25, 2010 and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left ear otitis media were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, as well as reopening of several previously denied claims. The case is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video conference Board hearing.

The Veteran was seen for complaints of headaches following a head injury in service and has presented competent and credible evidence that those headaches have persisted since service.,It is as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of hearing problems during or shortly after service. The examiner concluded that the onset of symptoms occurred many years post-service discharge and was more likely due to occupational noise exposure from construction work.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was evaluated at a zero percent disability rating, effective April 2008. The Board found that an increased rating for the appeals period is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, DJD and ulnar instability of the left elbow, and cubital tunnel syndrome of the left elbow are related to service. The appeal is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.