Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The claims are granted.,Service connection is established for hypertension as a result of presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, and for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to direct service connection.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss disability, as the Veteran did not have a chronic right ear hearing loss disability in service and none was diagnosed until many years after separation. The ratings for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and Crohn's disease. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for his right shoulder disability.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability was previously denied, but the appeal is now considered granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability related to service, specifically PTSD and depressive disorder. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded as there are issues with the current evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant service records and examinations. The case will be reviewed by the Director of VA Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination and need for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation prior to August 18, 2014, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board finds that the evidence does not establish a nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service, including exposure to loud noises.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not a result of excessive noise exposure during his active military service. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his present condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete notice and treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to December 17, 2011, and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal was denied, with hypertension rated as noncompensable and other issues remaining in controversy.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current hearing loss disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased initial disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent from November 24, 2008 to September 15, 2010, 20 percent from September 16, 2010 to August 19, 2011, and 30 percent since August 20, 2011.

The Veteran's hysterectomy was caused by uterine fibroids that developed during service, leading to excessive bleeding.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss as it meets the criteria under VA regulations.

The case is being remanded for additional development and adjudicative action due to incomplete records from the VA and a private audiologist.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have sufficient hearing loss in his ears to be considered a disability by VA standards, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not established.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no evidence of an in-service stressor.