Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's hearing loss improved, resulting in a reduction from a 30% rating to a 20% rating effective January 1, 2013.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus and current bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical records. The issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent otitis media with history of ruptured tympanic membrane are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left hemidiaphragm elevation with restrictive lung disease and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service exposure to loud noise from jet engines, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current disabilities and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a right shoulder disorder other than residuals of shell fragment wound (SFW) injuries to Muscle Groups II and IV, right, and an increased rating for SFW of the right shoulder are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and needs to obtain updated VA treatment records from August 2015, as well as any SSA disability benefit determinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn the appeals regarding whether new and material evidence was received to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claim for service connection for gastroparesis. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board is remanding the case for further examination to determine if the Veteran's ear pain and balance difficulties are related to his service-connected hearing loss disability, and whether an extraschedular evaluation should be considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension (secondary to diabetes), peripheral neuropathy (secondary to diabetes and/or low back disability), a bilateral eye condition (secondary to diabetes), and TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is due to noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition. The right ear hearing loss issue remains pending as it was not addressed in the June 2015 remand.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to active service. The issue of an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss have been denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions or exposure to relevant factors during service that would support the claims.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for updated examinations and additional development of his claims file.