Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on five of the six issues, leaving only the issue of service connection for TBI. The Board dismissed these withdrawn claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while his tinnitus is as likely caused by or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. Service connection is established for depressive disorder. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service connected.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of head trauma and confirmed the current rating for bilateral hearing loss at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including a new VA examination and a combined effects medical opinion. The issues of entitlement to an increased initial rating for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU are being remanded.

The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by his military service, and he is now granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the earliest possible effective date is August 29, 2011.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected. For the lumbar spine, initial ratings of 10 percent prior to September 9, 2011 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter are granted. Ratings for DJD of the knees and ankles are not met.

The Board found that the Veteran's Multiple Sclerosis did not have its onset during service and is not causally related to service. The Board denied service connection for Multiple Sclerosis.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun in service and has persisted, warranting service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure. However, the Veteran reported experiencing symptoms since service and his current conditions are related to acoustic trauma from service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a current disability during service or within one year after separation. The VA audiological examinations did not show significant threshold shifts in either ear.

The Board has determined that the VA examination opinion is inadequate for purposes of service connection and remanded the case to obtain an addendum opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that his hearing loss did not have its clinical onset in service or be related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his military service, despite some conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left ankle disability, prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran likely has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that are attributable to his period of active military service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.