Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims. The claim of service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, neurological disorder, and right ankle disability has been denied. The claim seeking an effective date earlier than November 30, 2010, for the grant of service connection for a right ankle disability has also been denied. The Veteran's claim of service connection for fatigue (manifested by chronic fatigue syndrome) was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for skin disorder and multi-joint pain (fibromyalgia) are denied. Service connection for a sleep disorder (manifested by sleep apnea) is also denied. The Veteran's headaches, right elbow disability, intermittent diarrhea, and right ankle disability have all been assigned the lowest possible rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this case.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The Board then determined that there is at least an equipoise of evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma. The issues of service connection for ruptured left and right eardrums are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and headaches due to TBI were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and bilateral knee conditions are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The VA examiners concluded that any current hearing loss and knee disabilities are more likely due to natural aging processes rather than service events.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of 40 percent is warranted as of February 18, 2015. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of an urachal cyst was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not etiologically related to his period of active duty or ACDUTRA, and may not be presumed to be etiologically related to such service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for left knee, right knee, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent since April 20, 2010. The evidence does not support a higher rating during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for arthritis due to herbicide exposure, hypertension, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss is granted. Service connection for PTSD is granted with an initial rating of 50% prior to August 1, 2009, and denied in excess of 70% from March 7, 2012.,TDIU was denied prior to August 1, 2009. TDIU was also denied after March 7, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by audiometric testing results that do not warrant a compensable rating. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence against granting an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was found to be noncompensable prior to September 22, 2015 and a 10 percent rating has been assigned since that date. The Board denied any higher ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or eye disorders for VA purposes and denied service connection for these conditions. The Board also found no link between the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder and his active service, thus denying service connection for this condition as well.

The Veteran's neck/back injury residuals and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection. The claim for a higher initial disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder is also granted, as are the TDIU claims.