Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been determined to be related to his military service.,Service connection for the stress fracture of the right distal fibula has been established and a 10% evaluation has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded to obtain updated treatment records, a VA examination, and further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for lung disorder, liver disorder, tendonitis, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as there are no audiometric records available to determine its etiology.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a compensable rating for residuals of hemorrhagic fever. The Board finds that the evidence does not support these claims.,There is no current diagnosis or active symptoms for either condition, and there is insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between the conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants this claim. However, there is no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disability such as PTSD, and thus service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability cannot be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not caused by in-service noise exposure. The claim of bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is a result of noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from February 25, 2014 to April 6, 2014. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for any other period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, joint pain manifested by undiagnosed illness (Gulf War Syndrome), and bilateral hearing loss were all denied.,No current disabilities related to the claimed conditions were found.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was denied as the Veteran did not file a claim prior to September 6, 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not originate in service, within a year of service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a chronic condition within one year post-service. The VA opinions provided were unable to provide an opinion without resorting to mere speculation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The other issues were not addressed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for stenosis of the middle infundibulum of the left kidney with enuresis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a previously denied claim for stenosis of the middle infundibulum of the left kidney with enuresis.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 4, 2006 for the award of a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision and is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and heart disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in ratings.