Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during his active service, were not caused by his active service, and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. As such, he is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not been manifested by worse than a Level II hearing loss in his right ear and a Level IV hearing loss in his left ear, resulting in a disability rating of 0 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been manifested by no worse than Level II hearing in the right ear and Level II hearing in the left ear. The criteria for a compensable evaluation have not been met.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been manifested by a Level I hearing loss in his right ear and a Level II hearing loss in his left ear. The Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss at any time during the period under review.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.,There is no competent evidence linking the current left wrist strain to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is presumed to have been incurred in combat, while his hearing loss remains unassigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no evidence of any exceptional or unusual disability picture that would warrant an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right arm with brachial plexus and residual right median neuropathy is denied. The Board finds that his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 20 percent disabling from September 10, 2008 to October 2, 2011.

The appeal is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further information and compliance with duties to notify and assist. A VA examination will be conducted to assess the Veteran's functional impairment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a left knee condition, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions manifested during service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was not addressed due to lack of claim.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50% effective April 29, 2015. Prior to that date, the rating is 30%. The Veteran does not have service connection for left eye pain or right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus granted service connection for both conditions.

The appellant has withdrawn her appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and the Board finds that there are no further questions to be addressed.

The Veteran has withdrawn all of the claims on appeal, and as such, the appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent for the entire rating period on appeal, as it does not exceed levels contemplated for a higher rating.