Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities from September 6, 2007 to May 2, 2012.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, inability to focus (claimed as impaired vision), and anxiety disorder. The claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for left forearm muscle injury was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's combined disability rating of 60% does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for a disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, and thus could not be service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for spina bifida occulta and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that these conditions existed prior to service or were not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a disability due to impaired hearing in either ear. His claims for lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy were partially granted with an initial 10 percent evaluation for lumbar strain, effective December 11, 2006, and a separate 20 percent evaluation for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to lumbar strain, effective March 28, 2012.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown during service or within one year after service, and there is no continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes at separation from service. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss must be denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his active duty service.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is not related to his military service, including noise exposure and a myringotomy he underwent during service. The Board found no evidence of hearing loss disability by VA standards either in service or within one year of discharge.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss during service or within the first year after separation, and concluded that current hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure. The Veteran's statements regarding post-service occupational noise exposure were considered but did not establish a link between his current condition and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, back disability, and cervical spine disability. The Board found no evidence to support a current disability or link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's sinus condition, diagnosed as rhinitis, had its onset in service and the Board has granted service connection for this disability. The claims for low back disorder, right ear hearing loss, and right knee disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service records and private medical records. The Veteran's hearing loss is being reviewed again by a VA examiner.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, and specifically denied service connection for this condition as it did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was properly severed from service connection due to a change in diagnosis. The right ear hearing loss is not currently shown as a disability for VA purposes.