Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a hearing held by another Veterans Law Judge. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, cardiovascular disorder, and right ear hearing loss are still pending.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during active duty service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be established.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and an increased rating for left ear hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for loss of use of the right foot, automobile and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only, and specially adapted housing are being remanded due to incomplete VA records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as he had not been unemployable prior to September 7, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is not entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's right hip disability, status-port total right hip arthroplasty is not service-connected. The combined rating for his service-connected disabilities (30% for bilateral pes planus, 10% each for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and 10% for post-traumatic arthritis of the right thumb) does not meet the percentage requirements for TDIU under section 4.16(a).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 60%, which does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his ability to perform sedentary employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA audiologist and a VA ENT specialist to address the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an eye disability including glaucoma, and a psychiatric disability including PTSD have been denied as the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board at the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.,An initial rating of 10 percent was assigned for the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and additional clarification is needed regarding the Veteran's asbestos-related pleural disease. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to the need for a supplemental opinion based on the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing.