Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA standards, and the Board found that his claimed hearing loss did not manifest in service or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and fecal leakage residual from anal fistula and anal abscesses were both denied by the Board. The Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, while his fecal leakage was rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied reopening the claims of service connection for hypertension, bilateral knee disability, diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a back disability. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his Vietnam service were found to be not supported by the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted. The decision is based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and are not otherwise causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be the result of in-service noise exposure, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss rating from 40 percent to 30 percent, effective September 1, 2013, was proper based on the evidence showing improvement in his hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the impact of his service-connected tinnitus on employment activities and a VA examination to determine functional impairment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically attributable to his active service. The Board finds that the evidence of record supports a grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had in-service noise exposure, which is presumed to have caused his current disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, and thus denied his claim for an initial, noncompensable disability rating.

The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, but his mumps residuals and pes planus do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to his service. The case will be remanded for an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the May 2014 VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records. The issues are whether he has service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in service and denied his claim.,The Board also found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified depressive disorder, was not incurred in or related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an additional VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his request for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bursitis of the right shoulder.