Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be attributable to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence linking his current hearing disability to in-service noise exposure. The most probative medical opinions indicate that the Veteran's hearing loss did not begin until years after service separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's disease have been denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by military service. The left ear hearing loss issue remains pending and will be addressed in a future rating decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the Board finding that his hearing impairment does not warrant a higher rating based on the audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to loud noises during his time in the U.S. Army.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service-connected hearing loss and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of an eye disability, specifically myasthenia gravis, remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and a sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea) were denied. The effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus was set at December 10, 2009.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus prior to December 10, 2009, is not supported by the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to provide adequate notice and development of the claim, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was withdrawn by his representative. The claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting the criteria for a compensable hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated at the highest possible compensable rating of 10 percent, as his right ear does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in the rating.

The Veteran's hearing acuity was rated as level III in both ears prior to November 28, 2012. From November 28, 2012 to January 18, 2013 and from January 18, 2013 to October 8, 2014, the Veteran's hearing acuity was rated as level VIII in one ear and level VI in the other. After October 8, 2014, the Veteran's hearing acuity was rated as level IX in one ear and level VIII in the other. The Board denied all claims for increased ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability recognized by VA standards.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, and he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating for PTSD. The Veteran's respiratory condition claim was previously addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for his Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a hearing loss disability of the left ear and remanded the issue of an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination to evaluate his current severity of hearing loss.