Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of left ear hearing loss was also addressed, but as this case involves a remand due to additional development being needed, it remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, specifically noise exposure during active duty. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board finds that the Veteran had acoustic trauma during active service, which may have contributed to his current hearing loss. As a result, the Board grants service connection for hearing loss of the left ear.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a statement of the case on the issue of character of discharge and any Social Security Administration records. The claims for service connection will also be considered.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, hypertension, heart disease, and hepatitis C due to new and material evidence. However, no specific rating or effective date is assigned as these issues are still under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to address the etiology of his tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not incurred in service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined, based on the evidence of record, that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and a psychiatric disability, specifically dysthymia.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's current hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's stress fractures in the pelvis and right foot have resolved without residuals. The Veteran has a current hearing loss disability in her left ear, but no right ear disability is shown.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and found that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for a TDIU from December 16, 2011.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was consistently manifested by Level I hearing loss in both ears, and his lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. As such, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted, and a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease remains unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional private medical records and clarification of speech recognition testing results.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, while hypertension, a seizure disorder, and peptic ulcer disease are not. The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for lupus erythematosus, finding that it is a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness presumed related to the Veteran's Southwest Asia service. Service connection was denied for hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing, and the need to provide him with information about accredited representatives.

The Board has granted service connection for a TBI and remanded the remaining claims due to need for additional development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, or a back disability related to service. The claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of May 10, 2010 for the award of a TDIU due to service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The appellant withdrew from appeal the claims of service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to muscle group XVII and a right leg disability prior to the Board's decision.