Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for DJD of the right knee, status-post total knee arthroplasty (TKA), prior to November 30, 2010 was granted with a 50 percent disability rating. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened but not addressed in this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, as there was no evidence of noise exposure during service and no nexus between the current condition and military service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) did not have its onset during service. The VA examiners concluded there was no resulting impairment from in-service stressors, thus denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. For bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, the Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is at least 70%, meeting the threshold requirement for a TDIU. However, his service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 20 percent since service connection was granted, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during active military service, with the Board finding that they are as likely as not due to noise exposure during his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 0 percent at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims for increased ratings for gynecomastia, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for right and left hearing loss disabilities and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for increased evaluations of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right elbow bursitis, tinnitus and right ear hearing loss prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions existed prior to service and did not worsen during service. The Board also found no evidence of a nexus between current disabilities and active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disease in service or continuity of symptoms after service. The Veteran did not have a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year of separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to link these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of outstanding treatment records. The issues on appeal are an increased disability rating for punctured left ear drum with hearing loss, and entitlement to an earlier effective date for a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and granted it. The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities was denied as there is no current evidence of such condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss did not increase in severity during service and thus, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's request for hearings has been addressed, and the case is being remanded due to unresolved issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 24, 2013, and for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, effective June 24, 2013, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to June 24, 2013, or for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, effective June 24, 2013.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The Veteran's current symptoms are believed to be related to military sexual trauma.