Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be at Level III in both ears prior to May 18, 2016, and at Level V in the left ear beginning May 18, 2016. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for hearing loss prior to May 18, 2016, and a rating higher than 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent 100% rating for hearing loss was granted, effective December 23, 2011. The effective date is not earlier than this as there is no evidence of an increase in disability prior to the filing of his increased rating claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, a right ankle disability (previously characterized as a bilateral ankle disability), and for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence received since the May 2007 rating decision supports these claims.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not compensable, but his schizophrenia, paranoid type, has been granted a 100% rating.,His TDIU claim is moot due to the grant of a 100% rating for his schizophrenia.

The Veteran's hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,The Veteran's bilateral knee condition is not etiologically related to active duty service.,The criteria for service connection for PTSD have not been met due to lack of corroborated stressor.,The Veteran's insomnia is not etiologically related to service and has been contemplated in the rating for his service-connected Anxiety and Alcohol Disorders.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is service-connected.,New evidence has reopened the claim for right ear hearing loss, but it remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are the result of acoustic trauma during his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are attributable to his noise exposure during active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal and thus no jurisdiction remains to adjudicate the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is as likely as not incurred in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, but the hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to her military service and granted service connection.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right and left ear hearing losses are service-connected, as they were present at the time of enlistment and aggravated during service. The tinnitus is also service-connected as it is a symptom of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing a VA audiologic examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar spine disability are all denied. The Board found that the threshold criteria to establish entitlement to service connection were not met for right ear hearing loss due to lack of a current disability diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied as his current level of hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.