Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to his active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate to determine the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has ordered an additional examination.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was evaluated as Level XI, which corresponds to a 10 percent disability rating under the VA Rating Schedule. The Board found that this level of impairment did not warrant an increased schedular rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, tricompartmental osteoarthritis of the left knee with a degenerative meniscal tear, and degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The cervical spine disability claim is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The right knee disorder claim is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss that is likely related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened. The VA examiner found that the current hearing loss was less likely than not related to military noise exposure, while a private audiologist opined it was at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to a higher initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for tinnitus. The appeal regarding service connection for a back disorder is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear. The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability had its onset in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 40 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted. The claim for service connection for depression secondary to his hearing loss was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of service separation, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not caused by an event in service.

The Veteran died of hanging, but his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma did not cause or contribute to his death. The Veteran was not rated at 100% for more than 10 years prior to his death and was not a prisoner of war.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on his current audiometric test results.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability caused marked interference with his employment as a respiratory therapist beyond that contemplated by the schedular rating criteria, warranting a 10 percent extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the VA examiner finding no functional impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and an audiological examination.