Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's sensation of tightening and/or closing of the throat is found to be a manifestation of his service-connected PTSD, thus meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that there is no audiological evidence of record to support a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted for either condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction as secondary to a service-connected disability, and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The effective date of the tinnitus claim is set at March 14, 1989, but no earlier. A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 29, 2012, and in excess of 20 percent since that date has not been met.

The Veteran's request for a hearing has been granted, and he is scheduled for another videoconference hearing. The appeal will be remanded to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's asthma was not related to service, including his presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied as new evidence did not relate the conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current condition. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability. The claims for left hand laceration residuals and neck pain (undiagnosed illness) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not found to be related to service, as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss and the Board finds that his symptoms are more likely due to occupational noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a ratable bilateral ear hearing loss disability due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not shown to have been worse than a Level I loss bilaterally at any time since March 3, 2010. As such, the claim for an initial compensable evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, left shoulder disability, lower respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disability, and headache disability. The appeals were remanded multiple times but ultimately denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bowel incontinence disability was granted, with the effective date being determined by the AOJ. The Veteran is now rated at 60 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation, and symptoms were not continuous since service separation. The evidence does not show that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is etiologically related to service.,The evidence does not show that the Veteran has a currently diagnosed left foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The issue will be readjudicated after the examination.