Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's left wrist disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected right wrist disability. His bilateral hearing loss claim remains pending and will need to be addressed separately.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision on the latter issue is pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiner. Additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a new examination, is required.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or symptoms. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not suffer from hearing loss during his active service or within a year thereafter, and therefore, the claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not caused or aggravated by service exposure to aircraft engine noise, as evidenced by normal audiometric results during service and no significant threshold shifts.,His gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as stomach, reflux, and ulcer disorder), to include GERD and duodenal ulcer, did not manifest within one year after discharge from service. The Veteran's current symptoms are more consistent with post-service occupational exposures rather than a continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, but his hypertension does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination, consideration of all submitted evidence, and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of reopening his bilateral hearing loss service connection is remanded for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded to obtain missing VA treatment records, provide appropriate VA examinations, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right ear hearing loss did not worsen during service and was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 100% from April 1, 2011 to February 28, 2013. The RO reduced the rating to 20% effective March 1, 2013 based on improvement in his hearing acuity under ordinary conditions of life and work. Since April 30, 2015, he is rated at 80%.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent prior to July 18, 2011. The appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including another VA hearing examination and a VA foot examination. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially rated as noncompensable prior to June 9, 2011. Effective that date, the RO granted a 10 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.