Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss disability picture is more nearly approximated by a numeric designation of hearing impairment based on pure tone threshold average and speech discrimination scores no worse than Level V in both ears since January 21, 2010. Therefore, a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted effective from that date.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development, including the provision of an examination and consideration of whether his service-connected conditions alone rendered him unemployable prior to August 15, 2000.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his active service, as there was no indication of any hearing loss within one year of separation from service and the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that it was caused by noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, feet dermatophytosis and a skin disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's currently diagnosed condition is related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The other issues remain pending and will be remanded.

The Board found no evidence of a current left shoulder disability, and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed left shoulder disorder. The Board also denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus as these conditions were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to noise from artillery. As a result, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection was denied. His anxiety disorder NOS is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 9413. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also not granted.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for anxiety disorder, NOS, prior to June 1, 2011, and in excess of 50 percent from then on; service connection for PTSD; service connection for depression; service connection for bilateral hearing loss; and service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining his DD 214s and determining exposure to hazardous noise in service. The VA examiners will provide opinions on whether the Veteran developed these conditions as a result of his active service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency, depressed mood, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating prior to December 29, 2010. Since then, his symptoms have caused reduced reliability and productivity.,Service connection for pleural and pulmonary asbestosis is denied. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left knee disability and current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss. The underlying claims of service connection, increased rating for left ear hearing loss and PTSD, as well as the issue of service connection for cardiomyopathy are addressed in the remand that follows this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee bursitis with degenerative compartmental narrowing, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disease or continuous symptoms during service. The Board also found that the current conditions were not related to service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a low back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a hand disorder (presumably related to fractures) during the Veteran's third period of active service. The Veteran was assigned a noncompensable rating for his right elbow disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, left ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, and neck/cervical spine disorder. The reasons are provided in the decision.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids, a higher rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and TDIU were dismissed due to the death of the appellant.