Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back, left leg, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected residuals of a left heel injury with numbness to the cutaneous nerve. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, ischemic heart disease (IHD), depressive disorder, tinnitus, and residuals of shrapnel fragment wounds to both legs, have rendered him unemployable due solely to these conditions. The criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee disability, tinnitus, and hearing loss, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is not related to his military noise exposure and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current GERD/dyspepsia, umbilical hernia, and right inguinal hernia were incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as there is no current hearing loss disability and the maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected due to aggravation during active duty. The skin disability claim for porphyria cutanea tarda is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to his service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for PTSD, residuals of a head injury, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted.,The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service, as there was no in-service noise exposure and no chronicity of symptoms within one year of separation from service. The other conditions were also not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was reopened and granted. His right ear hearing loss disability is presumed due to in-service noise exposure, but the evidence does not meet the VA criteria for a current disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since the effective date of service connection. The VA audiometric evaluation did not reveal any exceptional pattern of hearing impairment, and the current rating schedule adequately describes his disability level.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted with an effective date of July 30, 2013. However, his claim for a compensable rating for the service-connected hearing loss was denied.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and thus, new and material evidence has not been presented. As such, the claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his active military service and has continued since then, warranting service connection. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and a low back disorder, as well as an increased initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected left ankle prior to January 11, 2012, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and vertigo are remanded due to incomplete records and need further examination.