Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of current disabilities or causation related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to loud noise from artillery and mortars. Therefore, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his period of active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or any significant changes in hearing during service. The VA examiner found that the disabilities are less likely than not caused by military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 80 percent, effective May 6, 2015. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise as to the severity of his hearing impairment and granted an 80 percent rating for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not been manifested by hearing acuity worse than Level II in both ears. For the initial rating period from February 10, 2006 to August 27, 2008, his service-connected chronic lumbar strain was manifested by forward flexion of the lumbar spine limited at most to 70 degrees and painful motion without ankylosis. Since October 19, 2010, his service-connected chronic lumbar strain has not been manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or the entire spine.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and acoustic neuroma. The evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to service or any incident of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not incurred in service, including from acoustic trauma during World War II. As such, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board videoconference hearing. The issues on appeal are entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a compensable evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the current appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is now granted. Bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ischemic heart disease are also found to be related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether he had tinnitus, and granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection for PTSD was granted effective August 13, 2012, which is also the earliest available effective date for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's GERD is not service-connected as there is no evidence of its onset during or immediately after his military service, and the medical opinion found it unrelated to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the Veteran did not report or seek treatment for hearing loss until many years post-service. The VA examiner opined that the current hearing loss is less likely than not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not related to his service, and denied his claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent since September 2006. The most recent VA examination in November 2014 showed Level I hearing loss in the right ear and Level XI hearing loss in the left ear, which warrants a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not present during active service, within a year of separation from service, or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his occupational impairment due to service-connected disabilities. The TDIU issue will also be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's MDD is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss will be remanded as it requires additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and lipomas, which are considered disabilities for VA purposes. The evidence demonstrates in-service noise exposure leading to current sensorineural hearing loss, and the Veteran's competent testimony supports a nexus between his period of service and his currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss. However, there is no evidence linking the Veteran's lipomas to his military service or herbicide exposure, and the medical opinion against the claim is substantial. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but service connection for lipomas is denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss have been denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to September 8, 2014 and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent from that date.