Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as there are no findings on remand yet.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his claim for an increased rating has not been met.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are considered, along with his credible reports of in-service noise exposure, and it is at least as likely as not that these disabilities are related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to fully and correctly adjudicate the claims on appeal, including obtaining National Guard service records, VA treatment records from October 2015 onward, and private medical treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying stressor events, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his PTSD and hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been shown to be worse than Level I in the right ear or Level I in the left ear through qualifying audiology examinations. Those results fall within the schedular criteria for a noncompensable rating, and therefore, the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran seeks to establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he contends are due to acoustic trauma experienced during his military service. The appeal is being REMANDED to obtain VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA audiology examination in Puerto Rico.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have its clinical onset during active service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service, but he had a current hearing loss disability in his right ear that began prior to his second period of active duty and improved during this period.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, left knee instability, osteoarthritis of the left knee, limited extension of the left knee, right knee instability, osteoarthritis of the right knee, or limited extension of the right knee prior to the specified dates. Microcytic hypochromic anemia was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran is asked to provide information about when he first noticed difficulty hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and jaw disability did not manifest in service or are related to such, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings for residuals of cold weather injuries to his upper and lower extremities has been withdrawn. The remaining claims of entitlement to higher ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and pension benefits due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities render him disabled to the extent that he requires the regular aid and assistance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to additional development and consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss did not have its inception in service and is less likely related to his military noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of continuous or chronic hearing loss since service.