Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as his current level of hearing impairment did not warrant a higher rating. His claim for a higher initial rating for GERD remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as his audiometric results did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his essential tremor and Parkinson's disease, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left long finger disability were granted, but the hearing loss remains at a non-compensable rating. The left long finger was granted with separate ratings for scarring and limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability that meets the VA compensation criteria.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability and found new evidence does not relate to a chronic sinusitis or hypercholesterolemia/hyperlipidemia. Service connection is denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and left ear hearing loss are related to his active military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus to his military service, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his TDIU based on service-connected bilateral hearing loss was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss itself does not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, but denied it on the merits.,The Board has also reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied it on the merits.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to inadequate examination reports, incomplete treatment records, and need for updated opinions regarding service connection and employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be caused by in-service noise exposure, thus service connection is granted.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the presence of outstanding service treatment records, specifically a November 1970 separation examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be further developed and readjudicated.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have onset in service or be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence to support a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service or an in-service incident, and was not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.