Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including panic disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of July 21, 2008.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his personnel records and determining probable exposure to hazardous noise during service. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand disability, including residuals of a fracture of the right fifth metacarpal and carpal tunnel syndrome, was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral pes planus, allergic conjunctivitis, vitreal floaters, a disability affecting the knuckles of the right hand (trigger fingers), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU were denied. The RO granted service connection for vestibular disorder with chronic supportive otitis media, but did not grant the requested higher ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if current hearing loss and bladder/prostate cancer are related to service. The claim of service connection for nosebleeds will be adjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is now at 70%, meeting the minimum schedular requirements for a TDIU. However, he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities from October 25, 2004 until April 24, 2005.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not result in an exceptional or unusual disability picture before February 2, 2013, so the schedular rating criteria are adequate to evaluate his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disease, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and non-specific urethritis, combine to result in a total disability rating. The Board finds that due to these disabilities, the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 60 percent prior to February 4, 2013 and increased to 70 percent on and after that date. The claims for higher ratings were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to missed VA examinations and the need for updated medical records. The case will be reviewed after these additional actions are completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to noise exposure during his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected high frequency hearing loss of the right ear results in no worse than Level I hearing acuity, which does not warrant a compensable rating.,Hypertension is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service and did not manifest within one year of the Veteran's discharge from service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a ratable bilateral hearing loss disability due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The Board also found that his sleep apnea did not originate during his active military service and is unrelated to his service.

The appellant's combined rating is 70 percent with one disabilities rated at 50 percent. The objective and credible medical and other evidence of record preponderates against a finding that the appellant is permanently and totally disabled due to his non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to exposure to loud noise during service. The Veteran's claims for a psychiatric disorder have been recharacterized as encompassing PTSD, dysthymic disorder, and adjustment disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for prostate cancer, compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction, and service connection for a low back disorder prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to additional development.