Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for Meniere's syndrome with hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least in equipoise with the evidence, and therefore reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the Veteran. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to a request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an addendum to the opinions provided in the May 2016 VA examination report, due to new evidence indicating possible exposure to harmful aircraft noises during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and is not related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the issues of increased evaluations for his bilateral plantar fasciitis are also denied.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and testicular cancer was not granted as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining National Guard service records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's hypertension and left ear hearing loss claims are also being reviewed.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, as his auditory thresholds do not meet or exceed the threshold for disability established by VA regulation. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating, as his hearing acuity is currently at Level I in both ears.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD has been granted, with a current rating of 70 percent. The hearing loss disability remains at the noncompensable level.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, but has found no evidence linking his bilateral hearing loss to service. The decision grants service connection for tinnitus and denies service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.,There was no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within the presumptive period, and there was insufficient observation to establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no evidence of exceptional patterns or other factors that would warrant a higher rating. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU throughout the entire period on appeal.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is causally related to his noise exposure during active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence of an increase in disability/worsening of the left ear hearing loss due to service, so service connection for this condition is denied.