Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not manifested during his active military service, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, and is not shown to have manifested within one year from the date of his separation from the military. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted at a 10 percent level since October 17, 2008. The appeal regarding an increased rating or TDIU was denied.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's audiometric results did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a social survey to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and records for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and gastrointestinal disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including residuals of a ruptured appendix. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA examination and additional treatment records, including SSA records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and for radiculopathy of the left leg (right leg) due to lack of evidence of current disabilities. The initial ratings for degenerative arthritis lumbar spine surgical repair of herniated discs (low back disability) and radiculopathy of the left leg (left leg) have been granted at 10 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to all issues prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and determine if it renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II. The case must be returned to the Board after a statement of the case is issued.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, a blood disorder, a respiratory condition, and a heart disorder have been denied. The Board finds no evidence of these conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of the issues listed on the title page.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran experienced chronic symptoms of hearing loss during service and currently has a diagnosed disability meeting VA criteria. The appeal regarding an upper respiratory disorder is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left ear hearing loss disability was aggravated by noise exposure during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.