Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for consideration of new evidence submitted by him, and for readjudication of his claim regarding an effective date earlier than July 10, 2013, for the grant of service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was reopened and granted. His bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, his PTSD with MDD is rated at 70% prior to June 15, 2010, and he is entitled to a TDIU rating prior to that date.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in October 1973, and he has been assigned a noncompensable rating since then. The Board is denying the Veteran's request for a compensable initial rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for nephrolithiasis, finding that his conditions warranted only noncompensable ratings throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus may be related to his service-connected chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, but an addendum opinion is needed to determine the extent of any secondary relationship.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the April 2010 rating decision is not new and material, and thus does not warrant reopening the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.,The Veteran's current hepatitis C (HCV) was incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess his service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased evaluations were denied as there is no evidence of record prior to June 15, 2012 that would support an earlier effective date.,There was no increase in the severity of the Veteran's strain of the back between June 15, 2011, and June 15, 2012, warranting a higher evaluation under any applicable Diagnostic Code.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a thyroid disorder or disease, and thus the claim for service connection for a thyroid disorder or disease is denied. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and post-operative residuals of gallbladder disease are remanded for further development.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, as there is relative equipoise of evidence supporting this claim. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his tinnitus is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and an increased evaluation for right ear hearing loss. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and that the current level of disability does not warrant an increase in rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling examinations and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated based on the additional evidence.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a new examination. The case will be referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits or Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are found to be related to his active service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his active service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is REMANDED to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current hearing problems and his military service.