Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The decision is mixed on the right knee issue, as it was withdrawn prior to the issuance of a final decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The decision also found that the Veteran's PTSD is related to military sexual trauma during her service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except hearing loss were withdrawn by the Veteran. The Board grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss, and the claim is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected atypical ear pain and right inguinal hernia, as well as his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was not granted any new or material evidence to reopen his previously denied claims.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and left ear hearing loss, as well as reopened the claims for these conditions. The Veteran's current symptoms of snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, restless sleep, large neck size, sexual dysfunction, high blood pressure, and obesity are considered to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 1, 2012, and in excess of zero percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn.,The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was reopened due to the submission of new evidence suggesting a link between the condition and service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric conditions. The AOJ has ordered additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these claims.,The Veteran also seeks increased ratings for his left thumb injury and left eye injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete records from his previous and current employers. The Veteran is asked to provide information about any private or VA treatment providers who have treated him since March 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's recent move and will schedule a video-conference hearing at her local RO in Texas.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his claim for service connection of esophagitis/GERD has been granted. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating or reopening of the GERD claim.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for tinnitus, finding it at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus originated during his active duty.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability, as his combined disability evaluation is at least 60 percent. The Board finds that he is precluded from employment in a field for which his education and prior work experience would qualify him, and that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of the limitations imposed by his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10% disability rating effective from the date of claim. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not considered to be related to active service.,For the period prior to November 15, 2013, the Veteran was awarded an initial 20% disability rating for his lumbar spine disability and a 20% disability rating for associated right lower extremity radiculopathy. Effective from November 15, 2013, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40%. The Board also granted a maximum 40% disability rating for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing. The Board will schedule the Veteran for such a hearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and has not been shown to be otherwise related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.