Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for clarification on certain medical findings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no current left knee disability, and the Veteran's deviated nasal septum was not manifested by complete obstruction on one side or 100% obstruction of both sides. For PTSD, the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating. For bilateral hearing loss, there was no evidence of more than Level II hearing in either ear.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as non-compensable throughout the appeal period, with no worse than level I hearing in both ears.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and BPH are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss as it is at least as likely as not that the condition was incurred during active duty.

The Board finds that additional evidentiary development is necessary before the Board can adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is REMANDED to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion from a qualified examiner to determine if the Veteran's in-service incidents of multiple close proximity explosions and constant (daily) exposure to loud noise from heavy generators could result in or aggravate his current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for major depressive disorder has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for right ear hearing loss, as the evidence supports a finding that it was incurred during active duty due to acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, headaches, meningitis, septicemia, and sinusitis. The evidence submitted was found to be cumulative or redundant and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted effective July 13, 2010. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date of July 13, 2010.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, hypertension, BPH, symptomatic bradycardia with pacemaker, asthma, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss due to acoustic trauma during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA ENT examination and additional treatment records, as well as further consideration of the Veteran's claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and Type II Diabetes Mellitus due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's psychotic disorder NOS is found to be aggravated by his service-connected right knee pain, and he is granted service connection for this condition. His right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating under VA regulations. The Veteran's right knee DJD is rated at 10 percent since November 2012.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports a relationship between these conditions and in-service noise exposure. The claim is granted as both conditions are found to be related to active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and interpretation of audiometric data from a private examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches as service connection was decided on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of disability does not warrant an increase beyond the assigned 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA audiological examination and obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.