Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be adjudicated on the merits. Specifically, VA treatment records from April 2014 to the present and medical records from Doctors' Center Hospital in Manat�, Puerto Rico, as well as from Guillermo Armaiz, M.D., in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico are requested.

The Board has determined that SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance for the Veteran's spouse is not warranted due to her functional capacity, which does not require personal assistance from others.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a current disability. The TDIU claim was granted based on his combined schedular rating of 70% due to multiple disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his liver disorder, which may be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for cancer of the tonsils and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining employment records from his police and sheriff positions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and requires further development to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his active service. Service connection was not granted for allergic rhinitis due to withdrawal of appeal by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's respiratory disorder claim is remanded as it requires additional examination.

The Veteran's current tinnitus was found to be related to service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

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

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. Additional examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an addendum opinion regarding his tinnitus and respiratory disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a causal relationship between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or within one year after service. The claims for service connection have been denied.