Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, as his auditory thresholds do not meet or exceed the threshold for disability established by VA regulation. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating, as his hearing acuity is currently at Level I in both ears.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD has been granted, with a current rating of 70 percent. The hearing loss disability remains at the noncompensable level.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, but has found no evidence linking his bilateral hearing loss to service. The decision grants service connection for tinnitus and denies service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.,There was no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within the presumptive period, and there was insufficient observation to establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no evidence of exceptional patterns or other factors that would warrant a higher rating. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is causally related to his noise exposure during active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence of an increase in disability/worsening of the left ear hearing loss due to service, so service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus disability due to service, and therefore, cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The Veteran's duodenal ulcer with prolapsed gastric mucosa and gastroesophageal reflux disease is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a separate rating for right knee instability were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spines, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, traumatic brain injury, and allergic rhinitis. The disability ratings remain at their current levels.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran suffers from bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus incurred or aggravated by service. Therefore, both claims for service connection are granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain medical records, provide addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection and remand VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure and determined it was more likely due to post-service occupational noise exposure and aging. As a result, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new examination. The other claims are also being remanded as no SOC has been issued.