Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is found to have its onset during service and the Veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressors. Service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but has denied the underlying claim as there is no evidence that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and inadequate opinions regarding his neck disability and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are rated at 70%, 10%, and noncompensable respectively. The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective November 24, 2010, and a rating of 70% for PTSD effective July 13, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss must be remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right upper extremity disability, bilateral hearing loss, left upper extremity disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee strain. The Veteran was also denied a compensable rating for his left axillary adenopathy with rhomboid spasm.

The Board found no evidence linking the current low back disability to service, and denied service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, but the tinnitus claim cannot be adjudicated without addressing the relationship between the hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to insufficient examination regarding the relationship between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to assess his functional ability due to service-connected disabilities, particularly hearing loss. The AOJ will also consider the most recent VA medical records and provide an updated supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as it does not meet the criteria to be considered a disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and vertigo were exacerbated by the March 2000 VA procedure, which was a foreseeable complication. The Board finds that this additional disability is due to carelessness or negligence on the part of VA.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and ischemic heart disease do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DMII with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, IHD, and scars. The Board has jurisdiction to consider entitlement to a TDIU in this instance.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest in service, and there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The weight of the most probative evidence does not support a finding that any current bilateral hearing loss is related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated at 30 percent since April 2011. The Board found that the current evaluation is adequate and no higher rating can be assigned.