Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the objective audiometric test results.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are still pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered to be incurred in service due to noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance, which has been established by medical evidence and consistent lay statements. As a result, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and bilateral hearing loss were denied, while his claim for service connection for a neurocognitive disorder was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; a back disability; and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hepatitis C, a right eye disability, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, or a cervical spine disability that is related to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including COPD, right shoulder and hand disabilities, and hypertension, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress, feed himself, prepare meals, or bathe without assistance.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable ratings for his service-connected left ear hearing loss and large posterior perforation of the left tympanic membrane was dismissed. The claim seeking a single 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities prior to December 19, 2013, was denied due to lack of clear interference with normal employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss and service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right toe disorder, a back disorder, a sleep disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include major depression due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for residuals of left fourth finger fracture is pending.

The Veteran's right acoustic schwannoma, right ear hearing loss, esophageal disorder, numbness of the hands, and numbness of the feet are all found to be related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 6, 2002 for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 19, 1994 for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted and the effective date is set at August 19, 1994.,The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss is denied as it does not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 40 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his bilateral tinnitus is denied as it already meets the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss are denied as the evidence does not show that his hearing impairment has ever met or exceeded the criteria for a compensable rating.