Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD primarily manifested by depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks (weekly or less often), and chronic sleep impairment; it did not more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his active duty service. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, but the Board has not found sufficient evidence for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that a disability rating in excess of 10 percent was not warranted prior to September 6, 2012, and in excess of 20 percent on or after that date for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show objective symptoms warranting a rating in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, nor did it show other deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relationships, judgment, thinking or mood.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a higher initial rating for residuals of stroke. The Veteran is not entitled to compensation for right ear hearing loss as it does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations, and his claim for a higher initial rating for stroke must be remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities (brain tumor, left eye disability, and left ear hearing loss) were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss is related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure. The eye disability is not currently service-connected.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the appellant's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss had its onset during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and issuance of a statement of the case on his claim for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in service, were not otherwise shown to be etiologically related to a disease or injury in service, and are not presumed as chronic conditions under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a). The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to his history of in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure during his time as a wheel vehicle mechanic is causally related to his current condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be addressed on remand.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to disease or injury in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on all issues related to the severance of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of malaria.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the issues on appeal, including obtaining service treatment records and updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and bilateral ankle and foot conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment prior to March 5, 2008. Since then, he has had a combined evaluation of at least 60 percent for his service-connected disabilities, but the VA examiner found that these conditions do not preclude sedentary employment.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and for additional medical opinions.