Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and finds that his bilateral hearing loss is less likely than not related to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case to ensure a complete record and readjudicate the claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and residuals of a fracture of the right fifth finger.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but the claims to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were withdrawn during the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and finds that it is related to his military service. The evidence shows he experienced acoustic trauma during flight training, and current medical opinions support a finding of a nexus between his current hearing loss and service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow for a VA audiology examination and for obtaining any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to the need to obtain VA audiology records from VAMC Newington.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA/privately obtained medical records. The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and bowel disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's hearing loss claim was denied. His left knee disability received a noncompensable evaluation, while his lumbar spine arthritis and GERD were both denied service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss has been denied. The Board is remanding the issue of service connection for a right knee disorder due to further development being required.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as audiometric evaluations did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, with pure tone thresholds and speech discrimination scores indicating Level I or II hearing acuity in both ears. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within a presumptive period, and is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran asserts that he experienced tinnitus since mid-1971 due to exposure to loud engine noise while driving a truck with a refrigeration unit in service. After reviewing the evidence, including a December 2008 private opinion and a November 2008 VA examination, the Board finds it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The VA examinations did not support a finding of current disabilities for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable prior to May 29, 2014 and at a 10 percent evaluation since then. The Board found the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and whether it is related to his active duty service. The case will be reviewed again after all necessary actions are completed.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, manifested by dislocation of the clavicle or scapula with no evidence of impairment of the humerus, ankylosis, or limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, is rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5203.