Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and GERD have been denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending as the issue has not yet been adjudicated. The Veteran was granted a noncompensable disability rating for GERD prior to May 23, 2008, but no higher.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and ischemic heart disease (IHD), but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The medical evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, including noise exposure. The Board affirms the denial of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically the noise exposure he experienced as a machine gunner in Vietnam. The Board finds that these conditions are directly related to his active duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus and psychiatric disability have been granted with a 70% rating. The decision also addressed the Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which was not addressed in the initial rating period under appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The lipomas diagnosed in July 2002 are found to have clearly and unmistakably preexisted service, and thus not incurred during active duty. Service connection is denied for fibromyalgia and lipomas.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service, specifically noise exposure during combat in Vietnam. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his exposure to noise trauma in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board has also granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is reasonably shown to have been caused, at least in part, by acoustic trauma during military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as her condition did not warrant a higher rating than the current 20 percent assigned.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year after discharge, and there was no continuity of symptomatology. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is less likely than not related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies in audiometric findings and to clarify whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to deficiencies in the VA examination opinions and the need to obtain updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 22, 2007 for the grant of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted. The effective date is set at August 16, 1973.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or back disability, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The psychiatric disability claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. Service connection for hepatitis C was also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as 0 percent disabling, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Director denied an extraschedular rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization associated with his disability.