Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him incapable of obtaining or maintaining employment that could be considered substantially gainful from February 26, 2008 to April 27, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of exceptional patterns or service connection issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 40 percent from September 16, 2011 to January 30, 2012. The rating is denied for any higher ratings or prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records from the Martinez VAMC.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, and right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for a right ear hearing loss disability was denied by the Board as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes. The claim for TDIU prior to March 15, 2012 remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unemployable from November 7, 1996 to October 6, 2002.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are as likely as not associated with his time in the military due to noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and PTSD due to the Veteran's request for additional records from the Rockford Vet Center Outstation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids, as well as his service connection claims for left lateral epicondylitis, right sided chest pain, hypertension, stomach virus/gastroenteritis, elevated liver enzymes, and prostate disability. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, and the claim for a higher rating of his left ankle strain is remanded for further development. The remaining claims are dismissed as withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA outpatient records and the need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination for his PTSD and to consider the TDIU claim. The case will be readjudicated after all development has been completed.

The Veteran's GERD is rated as noncompensably disabling prior to November 30, 2012 and 10 percent thereafter. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied due to lack of evidence of chronic hearing loss during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable under the rating criteria, and thus does not meet the requirements for a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a current disability at separation or within one year after separation. The VA examinations did not establish a link between in-service noise exposure and present hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and requires additional development before the claim can be decided on the merits. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased evaluation for a stress fracture of the right distal fibula are both being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.