Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his service, with symptoms dating back to when he began college after discharge. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for his right ankle disability was granted in March 2008, and a subsequent 10 percent rating was assigned effective September 24, 2007. The RO also granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss with an initial 20 percent evaluation effective the same date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a disability manifesting as vertigo, including BPPV, which may be related to her PTSD or medications used to treat her service-connected disabilities.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, sinusitis, left knee disability, left elbow disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease to obtain additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, lung disability, and kidney disability were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service or any other relevant factors.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest within a year of his separation from active duty service and does not have a causal relationship to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensable, and the evidence does not show that his disability warrants a higher rating.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is less likely than not related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea remains pending as additional development is necessary.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to June 19, 2014 and increased to 30 percent effective that date. For his headaches, the Veteran received a 10 percent rating which has been maintained.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability, as evaluated under the rating schedule, does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable initial disability rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss had its onset in service, and the Board has determined that it is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an error in sending hearing notification. The case will be returned for scheduling a new videoconference Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will handle any additional development as required.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to service, and therefore service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 30 percent, which corresponds to Level VII in the right ear and Level V in the left ear. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected disabilities.