Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for a right-ear hearing loss disability has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from November 14, 2002 to March 17, 2009. The current rating of 10 percent is deemed appropriate based on the audiometric test results.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA vocational rehabilitation file and Social Security Administration records. The issue of two separate compensable ratings for bilateral radiculopathy from the service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has also been raised and must be addressed first.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss disability of both ears, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims. The claim for left ear hearing loss disability is reopened but denied on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to his period of active military service. The claim pertaining to left ear hearing loss is addressed in a separate REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for polyps in the colon, nose and throat were denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his service treatment records and to schedule a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent initial rating. The other issues have not been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's hearing loss in both ears and to determine if his right ear hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with consideration of continuity of symptomatology. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested at worst by Level I hearing acuity in both ears. Despite the Veteran's complaints of difficulties with hearing, especially in social situations, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records, clarify the Veteran's in-service incident and conduct an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year post-service. The VA examiner found no link between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the Veteran has tinnitus, which is attributable to active military service, but did not find evidence of hearing loss in service or within one year thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and prior occupational history, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of hearing loss disability in service and the current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not incur bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus during or as a result of service and his lay assertions regarding continuity of symptomatology were not credible.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of multiple joints and coronary artery disease, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to September 5, 2013.

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

The Board denied service connection for depression, remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss, granted compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for left knee injury, and did not address reopening of a previously denied lumbar spine injury claim.