Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for tinnitus and granted entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's symptoms, including tinnitus and hearing loss, are linked to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his right ear hearing loss and service, as well as a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depression with alcohol and marijuana dependence are rated at 70 percent, warranting a higher evaluation. The Veteran also has additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more disabling, which is separate from his TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain is rated at 10 percent, and she was granted a rating in excess of the current 10 percent for this condition. The Board found no evidence to support additional ratings based on her complaints or examination findings.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected conditions do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence to suggest it was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun following in-service noise exposure and has continued since service. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD, which is related to his combat experiences in Iraq.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss that meets VA's definition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be remanded for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, taking into account his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective November 5, 2008. The initial disability rating for diabetic nephropathy was increased to 60 percent in February 2007.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and whether any low back disability with lower extremity radiculopathy was incurred in service or related to any incident of service. The examiner must also determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction are secondary to his low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder and back disabilities, as well as for obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection was also reopened for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since June 2010. The most recent VA audiological examination in September 2015 showed auditory acuity levels of Level III in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, which meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, thus granting service connection for this condition. Similarly, the Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining relevant records. The issues of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and a left foot disability are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU based on his combined disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and STRs from various military bases overseas. The Veteran's claim of service connection for Meniere's disease will be reconsidered after this additional development.