Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including whether they are related to in-service exposure to aircraft engine noise or jet fuels.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, as his previous employment experience was in an environment with 'very little noise,' which does not exacerbate his hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board denied an increased rating for this condition.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The preponderance of the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating prior to April 1, 2017 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from April 1, 2017 onward.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a direct relationship between his conditions and active duty.

The Board found no evidence of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IHD, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 1, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been granted a 50% rating effective October 25, 2016. The hearing loss claim has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 7, 2011. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA audiometric testing and determine the current level of severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 80 percent since October 20, 2015. The RO granted a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus are at least as likely as not aggravated by service. As a result, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's gastrointestinal and hearing loss disabilities were not service-connected, as there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service. The Veteran did not have IBS, and his current upper GI symptoms are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, while his left knee disability is not shown by the evidence of record for the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues, including a need for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has remanded the earlier effective date claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the issues of service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is not resolved yet.