Hearing loss decisions — 2016

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability, diagnosed as a chronic bilateral ankle strain, is related to his active service.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the reduction of the evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 30% to 10%, as it is rendered moot by the AMC's May 2016 rating decision restoring the Veteran's original 30% disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a hearing. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability per VA standards, thus denying service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to hazardous noise levels, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service and is not related to noise exposure or acoustic trauma, thus denying service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, asthma, skin cancer of the head, back, and face, knot on left shin, and Meniere's disease and/or vertigo (secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus).

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, skin disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, toenail disorder, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, vein disorder, low back disorder, neurological disorders of the lower extremities, and eye disorder were not shown to be related to service. The Veteran did not provide any statements attributing these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his anxiety disorder. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the disability rating claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of December 1, 2015. Prior to that date, his combined disability rating was not sufficient to warrant a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the evidence currently of record is sufficient to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the diagnoses and etiologies of his claimed bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disability. The claim will also be readjudicated after obtaining any necessary treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and TBI, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to an in-service assault. The Veteran's other claims have been withdrawn.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore, service connection cannot be established.