Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to support a finding of aggravation by service or any other link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, are not of such severity as to prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. For his left wrist disability, he is currently rated 10 percent for residuals of fracture navicular with arthritis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not a symptom associated with the hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to noise exposure during service. The claim for eye problems and vitreous degeneration was denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service, and the current condition is not linked to service.

The Board has determined that the current rating decision is not adequate for service connection of bilateral hearing loss due to noise exposure in service, and has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion from an appropriate medical professional.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision. The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service and the current hearing loss did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to his military service, with the Board finding that he experienced noise exposure during service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, and a VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's TBI, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and post traumatic headaches are all rated at their maximum levels. The Veteran is granted a higher initial evaluation for his PTSD from July 29, 2010 to December 14, 2011, and since December 15, 2011. He is also granted TDIU.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and conducting other appropriate actions.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or a nexus between his current disabilities and service. The Veteran's symptoms began several years after service, which does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in March 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted and rated at 50 percent since December 21, 2011. Right ear hearing loss disability is related to service but the status of left ear hearing loss disability remains unknown.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA audiology examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues have been reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and whether they render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated at 20 percent, which represents the maximum schedular evaluation allowed under Diagnostic Code 6100. The Veteran's tinnitus is assigned a maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6260 and does not warrant referral for extraschedular consideration.