Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and post-service treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its origins during his active service and the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The hearing loss claim remains pending as it has not been addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable due to the absence of any impairment that warrants a higher rating under VA's schedular criteria.

The Board has determined that the issue of whether the Veteran should receive a separate rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury as noted in the February 2013 TBI examination report, based on the level of impairment in the facets of cognitive impairment and other residuals of TBI, has been raised by the record. The case is also remanded to return the claims file to the examiner who provided the aid and attendance/housebound opinion in February 2013 or reschedule for another VA examination if feasible.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most severe level being Level I in both ears. The Board finds that his current disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as his symptoms had their onset during service.

The Veteran's hearing acuity was consistently at Level II in both ears throughout the appeal period, resulting in a noncompensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at the maximum allowable under DC 5271, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, which represents the highest available rating under DC 5276. A higher or separate rating is not warranted without evidence of ankylosis, astragalectomy (the surgical removal of the talus bone), or malunion of os calcis or astragulus bones.,The Veteran's left knee bursitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable DCs. The highest available rating is 10 percent under DC 5284, as it is rated as 'other foot injury'.,Bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at zero percent and no higher ratings are warranted based on the provided information.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records, including a temporary claims file that may contain evidence related to the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. Bilateral hearing loss was denied as it was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran is not entitled to an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent at any point during the pendency of this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. However, there is no evidence of a right ear hearing disorder during the period under appellate review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not manifest during his military service and there is no evidence of a nexus between the in-service noise exposure and the current condition.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, as the VA examiner concluded that it was more likely due to presbycusis (age-related hearing loss).,However, the Veteran and his spouse have consistently reported continuous tinnitus since active service. The private physician provided a positive nexus opinion linking the Veteran's current tinnitus to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and back disability have been denied. The Board has ordered a remand due to the Veteran not receiving proper notice of his scheduled videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran does not have sufficient bilateral hearing loss in his ears to be considered a disability by VA standards, and thus service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not established.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current disability was incurred during military service.