Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show a sustained improvement in his hearing disability, and he is currently rated at 20 percent for the period after April 23, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, do not preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment prior to February 27, 2014. Since February 27, 2014, the combined effect of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spondylosis, and left arm radiculopathy, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board is remanding the claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right hip disorders and a low back disorder due to further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, hypertension, a left ankle disorder, restless leg syndrome, a left shoulder disorder, a cervical spine disorder, a right knee disorder, hearing loss, and prostate disorder are denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of service and VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date of the grant of service connection for CAD is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The appeal of his diabetes mellitus claim has been withdrawn by the Veteran. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and hearing loss. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was manifest during active service or within the first post-service year, and is not shown to have developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as an addendum opinion from the December 2011 VA examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as Level III, resulting in a noncompensable rating.,His pseudofolliculitis barbae has not been shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable prior to February 21, 2014 and at a 10 percent rating from that date. The Board finds the current ratings are appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during his active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his hearing loss, as well as additional development of the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left ankle muscle sprains was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis of the ankle in plantar flexion at more than 40 degrees or in dorsiflexion at more than 10 degrees. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the Veteran's combined disability rating and his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, including an in-service ear infection. The appeal will be returned to the Board after the examination.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, including as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss, due to additional development and consideration.