Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of tinnitus remains pending as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining the Veteran's Reserve service records and procuring an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding his hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including obtaining medical records and conducting further examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected as it is a result of noise exposure during his active duty in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim, as evidenced by additional personal statements and VA and private treatment records indicating in-service noise exposure and a consistent relationship between current hearing loss and military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, hypertension, and loss of vision in the right eye are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions with service. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is currently rated noncompensably disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service. The appeal of PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA audiological examination and obtaining additional treatment records.

The Veteran's hearing loss is service-connected, and his PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent. The Board finds that the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to determine his need for aid and attendance or housebound benefits. The referred issues of service connection will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Arkansas and updating the supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the remaining claims of service connection for sleep disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (secondary to diabetes and/or PTSD), alcoholism (secondary to PTSD), joint pain (including fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis) (secondary to PTSD), gastrointestinal condition (secondary to PTSD), initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, and initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD have all been denied. The Veteran's service treatment records are silent for complaints or findings of hearing loss, asbestosis, hypertension, alcoholism, joint pain, gastrointestinal condition, diabetes mellitus, or CAD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since April 29, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss prior to January 11, 2005 on an extra-schedular basis has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding the relationship between his dizziness and his hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 10 percent disabling effective November 3, 2009. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was previously granted a noncompensable rating prior to July 27, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right ear hearing loss disabilities had their onset during active service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and SMC based on housebound status. The decision also noted that there was no confirmed diagnosis of PTSD.