Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for gout of the left great toe, a left ear hearing loss disability, and residuals of an infection of the right foot. Service connection was granted for hypertension.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left ear disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claim is granted as there is now sufficient evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 60 percent effective November 13, 2014. Prior to this date, the disability had been rated as non-compensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active service, while his claim for PTSD stemming from in-service fear of hostile environment conditions was not supported by evidence showing a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, dizzy spells, chronic memory loss, erectile dysfunction (ED), and intestinal disorder have been granted. The claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for left wrist strain with ganglion remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another, or by reason of being housebound was denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is considered as part of his pending increased rating claim.

The Board finds that there is no competent or credible evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and right shoulder disability. The earliest clinical evidence of these conditions does not date back to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's difficulty concentrating due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not an additional symptom for which he can be granted a higher rating, as it overlaps with his already service-connected PTSD. Therefore, an extraschedular compensable rating for his hearing loss disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current hearing loss disability recognized by VA standards.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent since February 17, 2011. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability effective from August 27, 2015. The previous ratings were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is a symptom of the Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss. The left ear hearing loss and lichen planus chronicus claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss as defined by VA standards, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss did not worsen during service and was not aggravated by in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed by the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability and for effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The criteria for these conditions were not met under VA rating criteria, and there was no exceptional pattern of hearing loss or other related factors.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and clarification of the September 2014 private audiogram results in light of VA standards which require Maryland CNC testing.

The Board has granted reconsideration of the previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence received since the November 2004 denial includes relevant official service department records not previously considered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus (flat feet) was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition during the pendency of his appeal. The Board found that the recent VA radiology report did not support a current diagnosis of flat feet.