Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no significant threshold shift in his hearing during service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, specifically his National Guard service. The VA audiologist concluded that these conditions are more likely due to civilian noise exposure than to his intermittent National Guard service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The Board found that the Veteran had credible statements regarding his in-service noise exposure and current tinnitus, which established continuity of symptomatology with a disease first diagnosed after discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, effective from June 20, 2007. The decision is based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran including official combat records and a VA-authorized audiological examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hearing loss, residuals of head trauma, facial scars, neck disability, and low back disability. The PTSD claim was also denied as there is no current disability warranting a rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected hearing loss alone does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been manifested by no worse than Level II hearing in the right ear and Level IV hearing in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been withdrawn. The TDIU issue is being remanded due to the failure to provide a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion regarding whether his current hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but no effective date earlier than June 30, 2011, was assigned.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA audiology examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains about determining an appropriate rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his left ear, and there is no evidence of such during service. For the acquired psychiatric disability claim, the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claim for PTSD due to military sexual trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is more likely than not caused by his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so severe that they preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for residuals of left forearm and elbow injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, neck disorder, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, GERD, and hypertension were denied. The RO found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of these conditions.