Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, bilateral eye disability, chronic gastrointestinal disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of exposure to mustard gas or other presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial 50 percent rating prior to December 18, 2008 and a 70 percent rating from that date through August 16, 2010.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that was incurred in service and is therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an increased rating for organic personality disorder with organic brain syndrome has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and a TBI examination.

The Board has granted reopening of the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied reopening of the claim for right ear hearing loss. Service connection is presumed for diabetes mellitus as it became manifest within a year after separation from service. The Veteran's ED is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of military noise exposure, and service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of bilateral distal radius fractures are rated at 10 percent each, and his left ear hearing loss is rated as 0 percent. The Board granted the increased evaluations for the bilateral wrist conditions but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and TDIU prior to March 31, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues on appeal include TDIU, SMC, bilateral hearing loss, pes planus disability rating, hypertension, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss are currently before the Board.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are attributable to service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hip, knee, or hearing loss disabilities for VA purposes and therefore service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from the September 2012 VA examiner to address the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's photophobia is related to his service-connected cerebrovascular disease with seizures. The claims for a vision disorder other than photophobia and a cognitive disorder are also granted as secondary to the service-connected cerebrovascular disease with seizures.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded substantially gainful employment prior to January 19, 2012. TDIU was granted for this period.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarification on the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, including noise exposure.