Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulation and his left knee disability is not shown to be caused or aggravated by service-connected right knee disability. Therefore, the claims for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically the lack of audiometric evaluations from his employment with the Federal Government.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability related to active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, blood in urine/hematuria, and hypogonadism. The Veteran's PTSD and status post laminectomies L4-5 disabilities are currently rated at their maximum levels.

The Board has determined that service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, effective from the date of death (January 2012), based on evidence showing exposure to acoustic trauma during service and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is due to in-service acoustic trauma, specifically from combat-related noise exposure during his service in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to in-service noise exposure. The residuals of ureterolithiasis have been rated at 60 percent based on constant urine leakage requiring absorbent materials changed more than four times per day.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent prior to March 18, 2016, and 30 percent from that date. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claims for upper extremity cold injury residuals are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, and therefore service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus do not make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an unforeseeable transportation issue preventing the scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be rescheduled for a new hearing.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to have been aggravated by service, warranting service connection.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as the evidence shows these conditions had their onset in service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) is granted based on credible supporting evidence of a stressor that occurred during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while the remaining issues on appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there were no chronic symptoms of bilateral hearing loss during or within one year after service separation. The current bilateral hearing loss disability was not caused by his military service.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected due to the lack of continuous total disability rating for at least ten years prior to his death. The cause of death, rectal cancer, is not related to military service or exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have onset in service, was not otherwise caused by or related to his active service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to his active duty service. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a diagnosed anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, both of which are less likely as not caused by or related to his conceded stressor of fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.