Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss disability or right and left knee disorders that were incurred in service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notification regarding service records and alternative forms of evidence.

The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected, as it did not occur during his active duty or National Guard service. His bilateral sciatica and peripheral neuropathy are secondary to his low back disability.,His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are presumed due to exposure to noise from artillery fire during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, ankle disabilities, knee disabilities, foot disabilities, left eye disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea are presumed to have been incurred due to his exposure to noise during military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals for impotence, PTSD, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records, and scheduling examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset in service and the Board finds that it meets the criteria for service connection. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), alcoholism, and hepatitis C were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The left ear hearing loss was found to be pre-existing and not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as his hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty or are otherwise related to military service.

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.