Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected, but his right ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service. The claim for a temporary total disability rating based on need for convalescence following back surgery in October 2012 remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability are currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions based on the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral mixed hearing loss is etiologically related to his noise exposure in service.,The Veteran's tinnitus is also etiologically related to service or caused by the service-connected hearing loss.

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

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a left hand injury. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service exposure to loud noise during combat in Vietnam.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is substituted as the claimant for his February 2005 appeal, and he was granted a 100% rating for bilateral hearing loss effective from July 18, 2003. The Appellant also received DIC benefits under Section 1318.,The Veteran's death occurred on March 1, 2014, and as his disability had been rated at 100% since July 18, 2003, he was eligible for DIC benefits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 8, 2015 or after May 8, 2015, and denied service connection for gout.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is considered to be the result of noise exposure during his military service.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder characterized as psychoneurosis and anxiety, but reopened it based on newly submitted medical evidence indicating current diagnoses related to service. However, the Board concluded that there was no current hearing loss by VA standards, no established link between any diagnosed conditions and service, and thus denied all claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective November 9, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's asthma with COPD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during military service or is otherwise related to such service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his service, including noise exposure. The Veteran's hearing loss was not shown during service or within one year after separation, and there is no medical opinion linking it to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic peripheral neuropathy affecting the arms and legs with loss of equilibrium and Dupuytren's contracture, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence received since January 2011 did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.