Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service. Bilateral hearing loss was considered to be a preexisting condition, and there was no evidence of aggravation during service. Tinnitus was also considered a preexisting condition with no evidence of in-service aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. Bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure. Tinnitus is considered likely caused by the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss. PTSD is linked to a credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 13, 2011, for the award of a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that it is factually ascertainable that an increase in PTSD symptomatology occurred on approximately September 13, 2010.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,For the throat disorder, the Veteran's in-service complaint was treated as an upper respiratory infection (URI), and there is no indication that he has had any ongoing issues with his throat since service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable from February 12, 2008, to September 15, 2013, and at a 10 percent evaluation since September 16, 2013. The Board finds that the current evaluations are adequate.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 40 percent since January 3, 2014. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Board finds that they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for DJD of the right knee, status-post total knee arthroplasty (TKA), prior to November 30, 2010 was granted with a 50 percent disability rating. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened but not addressed in this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, as there was no evidence of noise exposure during service and no nexus between the current condition and military service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) did not have its onset during service. The VA examiners concluded there was no resulting impairment from in-service stressors, thus denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. For bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, the Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is at least 70%, meeting the threshold requirement for a TDIU. However, his service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 20 percent since service connection was granted, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during active military service, with the Board finding that they are as likely as not due to noise exposure during his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 0 percent at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims for increased ratings for gynecomastia, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for right and left hearing loss disabilities and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for increased evaluations of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right elbow bursitis, tinnitus and right ear hearing loss prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions existed prior to service and did not worsen during service. The Board also found no evidence of a nexus between current disabilities and active service.