Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and granted it, finding that new evidence received since the May 1978 denial supports the claim.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was reduced from 40 percent to 30 percent effective May 7, 2012. The Board has restored the original 40 percent rating as there is no evidence of material improvement in his condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is addressed separately.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for a bilateral hand disability has been withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The criteria for an increased rating are not met.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as his audiometric testing results do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable prior to February 27, 2012 and as 10 percent disabling from that date until October 10, 2014. From October 11, 2014, the disability rating remained at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, and bilateral foot disorder have been granted. The evidence supports these findings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Director of Compensation found that entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation for TDIU was not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide a retrospective medical opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the audio examinations provided. A new VA examination will be scheduled to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military noise exposure, and grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be related to his military service.

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service, while his low back disability was not shown during service or within one year of separation. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, associate the February 2015 Statement of the Case with the record, and schedule him for a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further development, particularly regarding his immersion feet claim.