Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish that he currently suffers from this condition. The Veteran is also seeking an increased evaluation for his residuals of a left ring finger laceration, which remains at 10%.,There is no established bilateral hearing loss or cervical spine disability, and the Veteran's complaints of unspecified joint stiffness are attributed to a recent injury.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a Social and Industrial Survey to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, as the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner concluded that there is no nexus between any current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus and military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during his period of active service, and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for service connection for vertigo must be remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied all of his claims.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and his appeal is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and severity of his back disorder, as well as to obtain updated audiological examination results. The claims will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the threshold disability percentage requirements for consideration of a TDIU on a schedular basis, but further development is needed to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA audiology examination reports and a private audiometric examination report. The appeal will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the medical opinion regarding the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss and its aggravation during service. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and social and industrial survey to assess the impact of his bilateral hearing loss on his employment prospects.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in service or within one year of his discharge from service and is not shown to be a result of disease, event, or injury in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were aggravated by noise exposure during her period of ACDUTRA, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his records. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, pharyngitis, Eustachian tube dysfunction, a psychiatric disorder, and plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is related to these conditions. For lichen planus, a compensable rating of 10% was assigned based on less than 5% body surface area affected.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.