Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable rating is denied.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the record. The issue of service connection for OSA is therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The VA examiner opined that the current right ear hearing loss was not caused by or a result of military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his current hearing acuity does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment for the entire appellate period prior to May 31, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to noise during his time in Vietnam. As such, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 30, 2006 was denied. However, the Board granted a 10 percent rating from October 30, 2006 to the present.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 20 percent since April 30, 2014 and is now rated at 50 percent for the period after that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA audiograms and further development is needed before a decision can be made on the claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not shown to have been worse than Level I in either ear at any point during the appeal period, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are rated at 20% and 10%, respectively, but his adjustment disorder with depressed mood is rated at 50%. The Board denied an increased rating for hearing loss and found that the Veteran is not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection in all three cases due to lack of a current disability or evidence of an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is related to his active military service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for increased rating of the right knee disability remains on appeal.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 29, 2004 for the award of service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder.,An increased rating to 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder from October 29, 2004 is granted.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, thus granting both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability warrants a rating of 40 percent, which is in line with his service-connected condition. The claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities was granted as reasonable doubt was resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back disability. The decision found that there was no causal link between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for colon cancer. The decision found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The bilateral sensorineural hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma, thus granting service connection.