Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, by themselves or in concert, have not been sufficient at any time to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right eardrum disorder, respiratory disorder, and left elbow and thumb disorders. The remaining issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, low back disability, increased ratings for the right and left knees, right forearm scar, left cornea scar, and left shoulder disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to issues related to scheduling an appropriate VA examination and addressing his service connection for hearing loss and depression.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service exposure to significant acoustic trauma while serving as a light weapons infantryman in combat in the Republic of Vietnam. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining his October 2016 audiometric test results and any additional VA treatment records. The claim will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's right ankle, left ankle, and bilateral hearing loss conditions are all found to be related to his service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's tinea pedis (infections of unknown origins) as it was present during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran not having responded to a request for a hearing. The case will be scheduled for a videoconference or travel board hearing before a member of the Board.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.,The Veteran's right leg condition and hearing loss claims are denied due to lack of medical evidence showing a current disability or connection to service.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied as the claimed event did not occur during service, and there is no competent evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss to an extent recognized as a disability for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD, but denied the claim as there was no diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with VA criteria. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not linked to his active service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was also denied due to lack of a nexus between the disorders and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was shown to warrant a 10 percent rating March 28, 2016, but no earlier. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.,The weight of the competent evidence of record is against a finding that the Veteran has depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood as a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. As a result, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local RO.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have not been rated higher than noncompensable levels.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a hearing at his local VA office due to his inability to travel to the Washington D.C. office.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of service dates and obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports these claims. Service connection is now granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are still pending.