Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to his active military service. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for liver disorder, gallbladder disorder, kidney lesions and stones, body stress rash release and trauma, polymyalgia rheumatic, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The remaining issues are pending.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral knee condition. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for a supplemental opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been denied. His hearing loss claim was granted, but with a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claims for other conditions. The effective dates assigned were December 20, 2010.

The Veteran's tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The claim for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and recurrent ear infections was denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss disability or chronic ear condition during or since service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The left forearm fracture disability remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his period of active duty.

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

The Veteran's hearing loss is found to have incepted during active duty service due to acoustic trauma experienced while serving in Iraq. The Board grants service connection for the condition.

The Veteran's low back disability and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated in service. The Board denied the claims as there was no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 40 percent, which does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. However, his service-connected disabilities do not result in unemployability without regard to advancing age.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during active service, with current evidence showing a history of noise exposure in the aircraft industry.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service due to a lack of evidence showing it during or shortly after his military service. The claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability and OSA is also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a clarifying opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure to loud noises, including from artillery fire. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.