Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for recurrent tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and inactive pulmonary tuberculosis with bronchitis is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent for recurrent tinnitus has been assigned.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability has been evaluated as noncompensable due to the absence of a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and the lack of exceptional patterns of hearing impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to address his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a liver disability (including hepatitis C and cirrhosis), and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorders, left knee disorders, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with depressive disorder NOS and alcohol use disorder as of June 17, 2015. The Veteran's symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment due to deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been at least 80 percent throughout the pendency of the claim, and he has met the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating. The appeal as to higher ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for visual impairment and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for VA examinations and to retrieve any pertinent outpatient records. The claims will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, anxiety disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, patellofemoral syndrome of the knees, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and headaches. The appeals were decided as denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to noise exposure during active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable under the applicable rating criteria. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for PTSD, service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, and service connection for tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service, including combat exposure during service in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, left ring finger fracture, status post left ankle distal fibula fracture, right foot hallux valgus, and left foot hallux valgus were denied. The Veteran is not shown to have a disability manifested by bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes. For the service-connected status post left ankle distal fibula fracture, an initial 10 percent rating was granted effective October 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and TDIU are inextricably intertwined and must be addressed together.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and treatment records.