Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ear disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression and PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing in-service stressors or chronic conditions that could be presumed due to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The heart condition, hip disability, and right shoulder disability were also not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is caused by acoustic trauma during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was initially rated as noncompensable prior to November 18, 2015. Since then, he has been assigned a 10 percent rating effective from that date.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted, with an effective date of December 16, 2008. The current rating is 10 percent.

The Veteran's prostate condition, including prostatitis and prostate cancer, is presumed to be due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Board finds service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have been incurred in service. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially rated at 0 percent prior to December 17, 2013, and increased to 10 percent effective December 17, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and Raynaud's syndrome are service-connected, with the former being caused by noise exposure during active duty and the latter due to cold weather exposure in service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and audiometric test results. The Veteran's claim will be re-adjudicated after these steps are completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating of 50% for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show a nexus between current hearing loss and service, nor did it establish continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, stroke, DM, and peptic ulcer disease. The issues of reopening claims for bilateral hearing loss, vision disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and low back disability are also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot calluses, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after active service, and there is no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and concluding that his right ear hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure. The left ear hearing loss claim is also denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as non-compensable, and his scar disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, SSA award documentation, and any other relevant evidence. The Veteran's claim of an initial compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability is being reconsidered.