Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's current tinnitus is at least as likely as not the result of acoustic trauma during service. The Board finds that his tinnitus is related to his active service.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically diabetes and its complications, PTSD, and hearing loss. The Board grants the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for tinnitus, hearing loss of the left ear, and hearing loss of the right ear based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim was not addressed in detail, but a VA examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied prior to December 2, 2015. As of December 2, 2015, the Veteran meets the criteria for a 10% disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and increased (compensable) rating for right foot disability, finding that the current noncompensable ratings were appropriate based on audiometric testing results.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II with peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, residuals of status post right hemicolectomy secondary to bowel perforation from colonoscopy with status post ventral hernia repair and scar, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset in service, and thus granted service connection for these conditions. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as it was not fully addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including in-service noise exposure during active duty and ACDUTRA. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have manifested within one year of his separation from service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is also granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his service. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, which is related to active service due to hazardous noise exposure as per MOS classification. However, there is no definitive evidence linking the Veteran's prostate condition (claimed as prostate cancer) to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and no rating decision was made for the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated at a 20 percent rating, and an increased rating in excess of this has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain hearing test results from the Veteran's post-service employer at a brewery. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service, as there was no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service. The VA medical examination did not find a nexus between the Veteran's loud noise exposure during service and his current disabilities.

The appeal is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his tinnitus claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not begin in service, is not related to active duty service, and therefore does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.