Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to noise exposure during service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. Service connection for arthritis of the shoulders is denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a disability at any point during the claims period.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including cholecystectomy residuals, GERD, depression, knee disabilities, respiratory disorder, allergic rhinitis, sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, skin disability, traumatic brain injury residuals other than headaches, headaches, right eye trauma residuals, dry eye syndrome, and erectile dysfunction are all granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, dry eye syndrome, and erectile dysfunction were found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claim for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims of service connection for dry eyes and higher evaluations for left ear/bilateral hearing loss are remanded for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and thus the claim is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for his claimed conditions. The current 10 percent disability rating for asbestosis with shortness of breath is upheld, as it meets the criteria under Diagnostic Code 6833.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have originated during his active service, specifically from exposure to acoustic trauma while serving as a gunner's mate aboard naval ships. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is more likely than not related to his period of active military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a medical addendum and consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) for extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which was previously denied in February 2009. As such, the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for hearing loss was denied in 1999, and the Board finds no evidence of a valid appeal. The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable under VA regulations. The effective date for service connection for PTSD remains December 4, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to his military service.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran did not have any diagnosed conditions related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board grants TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected, but his tinnitus cannot be linked to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The case was remanded multiple times, but ultimately the TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability, as well as his earlier effective date claim for major right shoulder shell fragment wound residuals in Muscle Group IV, are all granted. The effective date for the latter is set at February 3, 1971.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus cannot establish service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by service, warranting service connection. There is no evidence of mesothelioma or Alzheimer's disease during service or related to service exposure.