Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder pain and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his service in the Southwest Asian Theater of operations during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they were not received within one year of separation from active duty, and the effective date cannot be earlier than October 28, 2011.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be worse than Level II in either ear, meaning that a compensable schedular rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with an effective date of September 18, 2007. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and eye disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to August 30, 2012 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter remains on appeal.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to noise exposure during active service. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is REMANDED.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss. The case is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his bilateral hearing loss, including left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the current severity of his hearing loss and service connection claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by service.,His acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression) is not attributable to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to assess the severity of his dysthymic disorder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for both issues before a decision was made.

The Veteran's request for a Board videoconference hearing regarding his right ear hearing loss claim has been scheduled, but the letters notifying him of the hearing were sent to an incorrect address and returned. The case is being remanded to schedule another hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim of service connection for tinnitus was remanded due to conflicting opinions and need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent evaluation effective November 19, 2015. His bilateral hearing loss and gastrointestinal disorder claims are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled videoconference hearing. He will be given another opportunity for such a hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are being remanded due to the need for further administrative efforts to confirm his reported combat service in Korea. A VA examination is also required to determine if these conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus of the right ear, finding that these conditions are related to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracic and lumbar spine disability most likely contributed to his loss of use of his feet, which meets the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.