Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for withdrawal of the claim seeking service connection for a disability manifested by blood in the urine. The Board also found no evidence of hearing loss during or within one year after service, and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA audiological evaluation results and a supplemental opinion on the etiology of his left ear hearing loss. A VA examination will also be scheduled to determine if there is any secondary relationship between the Veteran's brain tumor and his service-connected psychomotor epilepsy.

The Board has granted a 30 percent initial disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis, effective from February 28, 2007 to May 5, 2017. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches remains denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service treatment records and VA examination reports. The case will be remanded to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported continuity of symptoms since service is credible. Service connection was denied for hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service loud noise exposure during ACDUTRA service, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, thus the claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The Veteran is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, with depression being found more likely related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted based on continuous post-service symptoms and in-service acoustic trauma, with presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and for other development of the claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been clinically shown to be manifested by no worse than Level II impairment in the right ear, and Level I in the left ear. The criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability have not been met.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not considered to be related to service, while his tinnitus is found to have onset in service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also determined that the Veteran incurred a bilateral hearing loss disability during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was aggravated during service and is therefore granted as service connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches due to traumatic brain injury have been granted a 40% rating, effective August 13, 2007. The decision also found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected and his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has not warranted an increased rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for higher, extra-schedular ratings for cervical spine disability and bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are related to his military service. The claim is granted.