Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted with a rating in excess of 50 percent from January 20, 2016 onwards. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are denied as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's esophageal cancer and diabetes mellitus are not service connected.

The Board found that the reduction from a 20% rating to a 0% rating for bilateral hearing loss was not proper and restored the original 20% rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disabilities, characterized as neck pain and mid and low back pain, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not show a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying in-service stressors. A new VA examination is also needed to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle limitation of motion, and right ankle nerve damage have been denied. The RO has not assigned a compensable rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss since July 27, 2009.

The Board has determined that the January 2012 VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and a remand is required to obtain an addendum opinion from another appropriate expert. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are inextricably intertwined, so both issues will be addressed together.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not originate in service or within one year of service discharge, and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to loud noise during service. As a result, the claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD and bipolar disorder.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim was denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were found to be related to his military service, with the Board finding that he experienced noise exposure during his time as a fuel specialist. The claim for service connection was granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, benign tumors (fatty tumors), a seizure disorder, and a bilateral upper extremity disorder. However, the claim for residuals of an asserted in-service traumatic brain injury with migraine headaches and a seizure disorder is denied as there is no evidence showing that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his post-traumatic stress disorder and bilateral hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to individual unemployability benefits is also inextricably intertwined with the pending claims.

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

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,There is at least equipoise evidence that the Veteran's tinnitus was caused by his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition. The left ear hearing loss claim will be remanded as new evidence was received since the last statement of the case.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected, as it can be attributed to noise exposure during his military service.