Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, including obtaining his Reserve records and VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the AOJ did not substantially complete the remand directives and finds another remand is required to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus has been assigned a maximum 10 percent evaluation, which is the highest available under applicable criteria. His service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for any compensable rating.,The Board finds that there is no evidence of record showing that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder was incurred during his military service or within one year thereafter.

The Veteran was not found to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from April 1, 2006 to August 2, 2011.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise, finding that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is less likely than not caused by or a result of acoustic trauma during his military service, and more likely secondary to post-service occupational noise exposure. The claims for coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease and chronic respiratory disability resulting from VA treatment were granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for sinusitis and a bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 80 percent since June 29, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period during the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spontaneous pneumothorax of the right lung is not related to his in-service left lung collapse and thus denied service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was also remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, and low back condition. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities, including DDD of the lumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current conditions were not found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. Bilateral hearing loss is presumed due to in-service noise exposure, while tinnitus is considered secondary to his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO or by live videoconference.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The Veteran's PTSD has also been granted, with a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as non-compensable, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and PTSD were denied in October 2004. He submitted a new claim to reopen his previously denied claims on November 15, 2010, which resulted in the grant of service connection for both conditions effective November 15, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal for an increase in his service-connected bilateral hearing loss claim was withdrawn at the VA Travel Board hearing. The left hip labral tear is found to be aggravated by a service-connected disability (lumbar spine with radiculopathy).,Service connection granted for left hip injury, specifically a labral tear and degenerative joint disease, based on aggravation of these conditions due to a service-connected lumbar spine disability.