Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset and was shown in service, and there have been subsequent manifestations of the same chronic disease during the appeal period. As such, pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b), as the Veteran's tinnitus (a chronic disease for purposes of VA regulations) was shown in service and there have been subsequent manifestations of the same chronic disease during the appeal period, the Board concludes that tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, with tinnitus being found to have continuity of symptoms since service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and any in-service noise exposure. The Veteran reported an incident during active duty where he was near a grenade explosion, but audiometric testing did not show any significant changes from his pre-service levels.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the increased evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss, and as such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran is now rated at 50% for his other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss, headaches, and gastrointestinal disability are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine are related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability and an ulcer disease, but reopened these claims. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is not supported by evidence showing a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, as he did not meet the legal requirements for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private treatment records. The Veteran should also be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a lumbar spine disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records and medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely the result of noise exposure during his active military service, and therefore he has met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as zero percent since August 7, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran is not entitled to TDIU because his combined service-connected disability rating does not meet the percentage requirements and there is no additional service-connected disability bringing the combined rating to 70 percent or more.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service, and the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6260. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not been assigned a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his period of active service, including a perforated right eardrum during basic training. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The Board finds the contemporaneous statements from the September 1966 Report of Medical History at the time of service separation more probative than later statements made during the course of an appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating prior to June 17, 2016, and no more than 50 percent thereafter. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and disabilities manifested by numbness or light-headedness are denied.