Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing VCAA notice to the Veteran.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder and a higher rating for right thumb injury residuals. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to address these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his preexisting hearing loss did not worsen during service and there is no evidence of noise exposure in service. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between his current tinnitus and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder impingement with acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease, low back strain, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and scars post-bilateral inguinal repair surgery are all adequately contemplated by the schedular rating criteria.,As such, referral for extraschedular consideration is not warranted.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, as it is likely related to his military service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to the lack of a disability level recognized by VA standards.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since May 29, 2009. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for his hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability is related to his active military service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of hearing loss or tinnitus, and therefore, his claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition began during active duty. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether a present hearing loss disability developed as a result of noise trauma during active service, and therefore grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left ear hearing loss were not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied these claims. The Veteran also seeks increased ratings for his PTSD and TDIU, which are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms, leading to denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of left knee strain is remanded as it requires additional development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating determinations have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran is granted an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 17, 2012 and a compensable rating of 40 percent from December 17, 2012 to April 24, 2016. The Veteran is also granted a compensable rating of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss from April 25, 2016.,The Veteran is granted an initial noncompensable rating for hallux valgus of the right great toe.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease and left ear hearing loss, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of noncompensable for right ear hearing loss. The decision also noted that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his pure tone thresholds did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability began in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also finds that these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of onset or continuity of symptoms during or immediately following service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran did not acquire a noise-induced hearing loss sufficient to draw a nexus to his current hearing loss.