Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and bilateral hearing loss, but granted a noncompensable rating for his service-connected bilateral photophobia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous examination to assess his current level of bilateral hearing loss impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran experienced acoustic trauma and hearing loss symptoms in service, which have persisted. He has a current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss for VA purposes. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection are met.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional examination and opinion, as the current rationale provided by the VA examiner does not sufficiently address all relevant factors.

The Veteran's claims for reopening his claim of service connection for tinea pedis and for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the tinea pedis claim, and that an earlier effective date was not warranted as a matter of law.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a heart disorder, and otitis media. This includes obtaining post-service medical records, scheduling examinations by appropriate specialists, and determining if there is any relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are claimed as related to his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's hearing loss and right knee disorder are granted as service connection based on aggravation of a preexisting condition during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure to noise, and thus grants both claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to noise during active duty. Therefore, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 70 percent, effective July 25, 2015. Prior to this date, the claim for a compensable rating was denied.,For his right foot disorder, an initial increased rating greater than 10 percent has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider the validity of his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has ordered a new examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, as his previous opinions were based solely on the absence of documented hearing loss in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, while a low back disorder is not. The Veteran's low back disability was not shown in service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is manifested by no more than a hearing acuity of Level I for each ear, and the criteria for a compensable evaluation have not been met or approximated.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, and thus denies entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 50 percent since August 20, 2013. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.