Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.,The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 10 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the improper provision of documents and the need for representation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, including noise exposure during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, and thus denies his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating higher than 30 percent for cystic acne is denied due to failure to report for a VA examination. The issue of whether the reduction from 100 percent to 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss effective July 1, 2014 was proper has been remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in service, was not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, and is not related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was reduced from 40 percent to 10 percent effective January 1, 2011. The Board restored the 40 percent evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss. Service connection for a low back disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, and undiagnosed illnesses. The case is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed as a result.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, hypertension, sleep apnea syndrome, and GERD due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current condition. The other conditions were not found to be related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection and a compensable rating are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms since service are credible. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was received to reopen the tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, right and left knee disability, left and right ankle disability, right and left wrist disability, and vertigo claims. However, hypertension and sleep apnea were not shown during or within one year after service and there is no competent medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, diagnosed as PTSD, depression and insomnia, are etiologically related to his active service. The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise with that against the claim for service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.,The Veteran's vertigo is related to military service.