Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied all service connection claims, including for nicotine dependence as a matter of law and for limited use of the hands as moot due to the grant of service connection. The Veteran's skin disability was rated based on its severity.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 23, 2010 for the grants of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and tinnitus are denied. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability is pending as VA treatment records are needed. The claim for increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder is pending as VA treatment records are needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria. The claim for the low back disability was also denied, with a finding of insufficient evidence to grant an initial compensable rating prior to February 19, 2013, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was restored to a 10 percent evaluation from June 1, 2012, to February 18, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA rating purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, but denied service connection for residuals of a deviated septum.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and possibly a new VA audiological examination.

The Board found it not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warranted a 70% rating prior to February 11, 2011. The effective date cannot be earlier than the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred up to one year prior to when the claim for increase was received.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The appeal will be returned to the RO after the hearing is conducted.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Munroe Regional Hospital on December 15, 2012 were denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency care under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his audiogram records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or bilateral tinnitus disability that is etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a Statement of the Case must be issued for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran will have 60 days to file a substantive appeal or these claims will not be certified to the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his in-service injury. The appeal of service connection for a back disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss prior to January 22, 2010, as the increase in severity can be factually ascertained from December 26, 2006.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.