Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining audiometric test results and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his current bilateral hearing loss severity. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are presumed to have been incurred due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of acoustic trauma he experienced during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, hypertension, and heart disorder were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since the grant of service connection in January 2015. The current audiometric findings do not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims due to issues related to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability.

The Veteran's application for waiver of premiums on Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) was denied because he did not file his insurance application prior to his 65th birthday, making him ineligible under the applicable laws and regulations.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals in the matters of reopening a claim for left knee disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an ulcer; as well as rating increases for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities. As such, there are no remaining issues to be decided by the Board.

The Veteran's authorized representative withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, as well as his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in March 2009. The RO later granted an effective date of June 1, 1973, for both conditions based on the addition of relevant service treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus are being evaluated to determine if they make him unemployable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by hearing impairment corresponding to no higher than an auditory acuity of Level II in the right ear and Level IV in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against assignment of an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and hearing loss conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection, as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Veteran's hearing loss was rated noncompensable throughout the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not result from disease or injury incurred in service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities did not manifest during service or to a compensable degree within one year of separation, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss manifests Level I hearing acuity in the right ear and Level V hearing acuity in the left ear. The Board finds that the evidence does not support the assignment of a compensable evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities have been granted, with effective dates set at February 17, 2009.,Effective from February 17, 2009, the Veteran is now entitled to VA benefits for her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for IHD was also denied.