Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The appeal for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is dismissed.,The appeals for a higher initial rating for the gastrointestinal disorder and hypertension are dismissed. The Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertension, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss have been considered but do not meet the criteria for service connection as they were not shown to be incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it was incurred in service due to noise exposure during his Army National Guard service.

The Veteran's original claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus was filed on June 28, 2010. The effective date of the award is set to June 28, 2010 as per VA regulations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, but has remanded the issue of his left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has determined that he incurred this disability during service. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his military noise exposure, thus applying the benefit of the doubt rule.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision supports the Veteran's claims by finding that his tinnitus began during service and is related to noise exposure, while denying the claim for hearing loss as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion addressing the collective impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability, hypertension, or PTSD. Service connection was also denied for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, are found to render him unable to secure or follow employment. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to evaluate the collective effect of these conditions on his employability.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since March 2015, and the Board found no evidence of exceptional hearing loss or other factors warranting a higher rating. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded and will be addressed by the RO.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and insufficient medical opinion to link current conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus was reopened, and the Board found that a current disability is present and there is a link to service. However, the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and foot disabilities due to lack of evidence showing in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD with anxiety and depression, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for a sleep disability, an acquired psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, and headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a more accurate evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 40% rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss from June 1, 2011 was granted. The Board found that the improvement in his hearing did not reflect an improvement in his ability to work as a truck driver.