Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether he had tinnitus, and granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection for PTSD was granted effective August 13, 2012, which is also the earliest available effective date for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's GERD is not service-connected as there is no evidence of its onset during or immediately after his military service, and the medical opinion found it unrelated to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the Veteran did not report or seek treatment for hearing loss until many years post-service. The VA examiner opined that the current hearing loss is less likely than not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not related to his service, and denied his claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent since September 2006. The most recent VA examination in November 2014 showed Level I hearing loss in the right ear and Level XI hearing loss in the left ear, which warrants a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not present during active service, within a year of separation from service, or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his occupational impairment due to service-connected disabilities. The TDIU issue will also be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's MDD is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss will be remanded as it requires additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and lipomas, which are considered disabilities for VA purposes. The evidence demonstrates in-service noise exposure leading to current sensorineural hearing loss, and the Veteran's competent testimony supports a nexus between his period of service and his currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss. However, there is no evidence linking the Veteran's lipomas to his military service or herbicide exposure, and the medical opinion against the claim is substantial. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but service connection for lipomas is denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss have been denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to September 8, 2014 and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in service, did not manifest within one year of service, and is not attributable to service. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as his audiometric results did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Board granted service connection for CAD with atherosclerotic heart disease and assigned a 60 percent rating effective March 7, 2016. The Veteran's current level of disability is characterized by a workload of greater than 3 METs but less than 5 resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 5, 2009 was denied. From October 5, 2009 onwards, the Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and refractive error (myopia) have been denied as there is no current evidence of a disability meeting the criteria for VA compensation purposes. The claim for right knee disability remains pending due to remand.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of various issues, including service connection claims and extraschedular evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not originate in service or within a year of service, and are not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as zero percent disabling, and his headaches associated with cervical disc disease are not separately compensable.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and anxiety disorder have been rated, with the most recent rating of 50% for anxiety disorder effective August 18, 2016. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset during service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.