Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his arthritis and hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations for various conditions, including PTSD, TBI residuals, migraine headaches, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a September 2010 VA examination and the Veteran's contention of tinnitus occurring daily. A new VA opinion is needed to address these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a pre-existing condition aggravated by service. The current diagnoses were not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his attorney, and therefore the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The RO has not assigned a higher evaluation based on additional factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability and a higher rating for diabetes mellitus with cortical cataracts was denied. The Board found that the current evaluations were appropriate based on the schedular criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened, with service connection granted for both conditions.,High blood pressure has also been granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and addressing whether his in-service injury was incurred in line of duty. The issues on appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) are found to be of such severity that they prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during active service, within one year of separation from service, or due to any other service-connected condition. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 20 percent prior to June 5, 2017 and increased to 30 percent from that date forward.

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be noncompensable prior to April 15, 2014.,Since April 15, 2014, the Veteran has been granted a 10 percent disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for his left hip disability. The evidence did not show a current hearing loss disability or sufficient limitation of motion to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum available evaluation of 10 percent.,Prior to September 1, 2015, his bilateral hearing loss disability was not compensable. However, as of that date, it warrants a 10 percent rating.,Effective from September 1, 2015, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending as it requires additional development.

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