Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for further development.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they were not raised in his original claims.

The Veteran requested to withdraw the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and the Board dismissed this issue as a result.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for additional development due to inadequate nexus opinions. The Veteran's use of hearing protection after service is a key factor in determining whether his disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service onset or a link to active service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was submitted in May 2014, and the effective date assigned is May 30, 2013. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date because no claims were filed prior to this date.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for hearing loss service connection, finding that there was no communication or action from the Veteran before May 24, 2016, which could be construed as a claim seeking service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities has been rated at 20 percent since December 24, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected as it is presumed to have originated during his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disorder has been found to be the primary cause of his right and left knee disorders, warranting a grant of service connection for these conditions. The Veteran is also granted an increased rating for his left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology, and the VA examiner found that his current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service.,The Veteran also had claims for a respiratory condition and frostbite residuals status post chilblain which are addressed separately.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in active service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The appeal is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and mid-thoracic spine strain, as new and material evidence has been received. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability had onset in service and is therefore granted as service connected.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria and concluded that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service. For his TBI claim, the Board determined there was no increase in severity beyond natural progression by an injury sustained during service.

The Veteran's daughter, U.P.D., was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 years and is therefore not recognized as the helpless child of the Veteran. The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder remains at 30 percent prior to February 3, 2012, and 100 percent from that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced chronic symptoms of tinnitus in service and continuous symptoms after service separation, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service mastoiditis and otitis media.,Service connection was denied for anxiety disorder as there is no evidence of its onset during active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, the current evidence does not establish a link between her current hearing loss disability and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between current symptoms and active service.