Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the claims due to a failure to provide proper notice and scheduling of a hearing. The Veteran's new address must be provided, and a video conference hearing must be scheduled at the earliest available opportunity.

The Board granted the Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU, but refers the issue to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for extraschedular consideration due to his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirement for a TDIU prior to September 20, 2016. The most probative evidence does not reflect that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss claim. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss is related to service, including noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not caused by service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation. Therefore, service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The claim for service connection for these conditions remains denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is causally related to noise exposure during active service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing. The issues of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board. The evidence did not support a higher evaluation, as the objective tests showed improvement in the level of hearing rather than worsening.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not the result of in-service noise exposure, and his claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any service-connected disabilities for which he is seeking benefits, and therefore, his claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension (HTN), bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied. The Veteran's contentions regarding these conditions were found insufficient to meet the burden of proof.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The evidence showed that, at worst, he had Level II hearing acuity in both ears.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 1, 2015 for a 40% evaluation for bilateral hearing loss as it was not factually ascertainable that his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was 40 percent disabling within one year prior to June 5, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and an audiologist's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to loud noise during his time in an artillery unit. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss of the left ear is more likely than not due to a head trauma he sustained during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II requires restricted diet, treatment with insulin, and regulation of activities. The RO granted a disability rating of 40 percent for this condition.