Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's chronic headaches have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.,His claim for a higher evaluation for tinnitus has been denied, with the highest possible rating already assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease at L2-L3 and L4-L5, severance of service connection for right ear hearing loss (previously rated as bilateral hearing loss), an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss, and TDIU. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability and left ear hearing loss do not meet the criteria for service connection. The right ankle disability is remanded to determine if it is related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and other conditions. The rating for the lumbar spine disability was reduced from 40 percent to 30 percent, but this reduction is being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding private treatment records and additional development of asbestos exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for Meniere’s disease (claimed as vertigo) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, based on audiometric test results that do not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his service, including exposure to noise and physical trauma during basic training. Therefore, service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 20, 2017 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The effective date is set at July 20, 2017 as it was the date his formal application was received.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus originated during service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred during service, was not manifest to any degree within a year from his separation from service, and did not result from in-service acoustic trauma or other in-service injury or event. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, and other specific trauma and stressor-related disorder are granted. Service connection is also established for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right leg disability, cellulitis, telangiectasia, photoaging, sebaceous hyperplasia, actinic keratosis, and herpes. An effective date earlier than July 22, 2015 for left lower leg laceration with infection and drainage is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 40 percent for the period from December 17, 2014 to September 2, 2016. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of hearing impairment at separation or within a year after discharge. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support the claims for service connection.