Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the earliest date of a pending claim for service connection for tinnitus was August 9, 2011. Therefore, an effective date earlier than this date is not warranted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the Veteran's exposure to noise in service and whether his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to such exposure. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for asbestos-related pleural disease and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the current disability levels did not warrant a higher rating under VA's schedular criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran is entitled to an educational assistance benefit level of 100 percent under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) due to his service-connected disabilities and the fact that he was discharged from service due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for lung or respiratory disability, claimed as breathing problems, is denied due to lack of documented respiratory issues during service and post-service medical records do not show any chronic respiratory condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability had its onset during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between current hearing disabilities and in-service noise exposure from gun fire. The Appellant's period of ACDUTRA was found to have included noise exposure but no disability was shown at separation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, including secondary to residuals of a traumatic brain injury, has been withdrawn. As such, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review this appeal and it is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hearing loss did not render him unemployable prior to June 17, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to failure to report for a scheduled Board hearing and other procedural issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, sleep disturbances, right ear hearing loss, and increased ratings for his right ring finger disability due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his left ear, but he has a current right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The evidence shows that the Veteran had acoustic trauma during service and currently experiences symptoms of tinnitus since service. Service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 5, 2012 for the grant of service connection for hearing loss cannot be granted as there is no evidence indicating he filed a claim before this date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, are of sufficient severity to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of his knee, low back, and left ankle disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this disability.