Hearing loss decisions — 2014

Throughout the period of appeal, audiometric testing has revealed no worse than Level I hearing in both ears. The criteria for an initial compensable disability rating for a bilateral hearing loss disability have not been met or approximated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his back disability, are of such severity as to preclude his participation in all forms of substantially gainful employment for which he is qualified. Therefore, the Board finds that entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating prior to April 23, 2014. His bilateral hearing loss disability has not been rated.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated as Level IV in the right ear and Level I in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board found that the current schedular criteria adequately capture his disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and increased rating for PTSD. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and additional medical records, as well as to ensure compliance with all due process considerations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with noise exposure being a contributing factor. The claim for dental trauma is denied as there is no evidence of a pre-service injury or disease.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a right shoulder injury due to lack of evidence of current disabilities or etiological links.

The Veteran's GERD and left ear hearing loss have been granted service connection.,Service connection has also been established for sleep apnea. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether erectile dysfunction is related to active service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not rated higher than 10 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that there was no evidence of a right knee disability or heart disability due to in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left knee disabilities were found not to warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and adjustment disorder, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and residuals of shell fragment wound of the left calf.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is sufficient to establish a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that he was entitled to such a rating prior to July 10, 2006.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on deafness in both ears was also denied as there is no evidence showing entitlement to such benefits prior to July 10, 2006.

The Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to his in-service noise exposure and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim. However, it was determined that the Veteran did not have a current disability at the time of his separation from service, and there is no medical evidence linking his current hearing loss to service or noise exposure.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability related to service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

For the period from November 22, 2006 to September 29, 2009, the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's current low back disorder is not etiologically related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder, left foot disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder are not related to service or any service-connected disability.