Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, while the low back disorder and right shoulder disorder are not. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of all evidence received since the August 2011 Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right side pain, a bilateral lower extremity peripheral nerve condition, vertigo, fatigue, and right ear hearing loss. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining clarification of the audiometric examination results from a private audiologist who conducted three audiograms.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 27, 2017, and in excess of 40 percent afterwards was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding warranting an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were evaluated, with the hearing loss rated at 30 percent effective November 6, 2013. The tinnitus was assigned a maximum 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and the claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and a skin disability are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Veteran was not granted a higher rating for his tinnitus or an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for tinnitus and granted entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's symptoms, including tinnitus and hearing loss, are linked to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his right ear hearing loss and service, as well as a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depression with alcohol and marijuana dependence are rated at 70 percent, warranting a higher evaluation. The Veteran also has additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more disabling, which is separate from his TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain is rated at 10 percent, and she was granted a rating in excess of the current 10 percent for this condition. The Board found no evidence to support additional ratings based on her complaints or examination findings.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected conditions do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence to suggest it was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun following in-service noise exposure and has continued since service. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD, which is related to his combat experiences in Iraq.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss that meets VA's definition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be remanded for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, taking into account his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective November 5, 2008. The initial disability rating for diabetic nephropathy was increased to 60 percent in February 2007.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss.