Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is causally related to service. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current sleep disability, nasal fracture residuals, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, sinusitis, or stomach disability for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current hearing impairment does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating. The claim for TDIU has also been denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss pre-existed service and did not worsen during service, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issue of service connection for asbestosis. The Board found that a compensable disability rating (10%) is warranted for his right forehead scar, but denied entitlement to higher ratings for PTSD and other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and skin disorders. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was found not to be related to service, while his skin disorders were not shown to be related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.,Pending issues of service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities remain unresolved.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but further development is needed to assess the impact of these conditions on his employability.

The Veteran died in July 2010 due to esophageal cancer. The VA determined that his service-connected post-gastrectomy syndrome and hiatal hernia did not cause or contribute to his death, as the cause of his cancer was linked to smoking and male gender rather than any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for left thumb MCP joint and scaphoid osteoarthritis, right wrist osteoarthritis, low back strain, and right ear hearing loss have been denied. The current evaluations are found to be appropriate.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service. Bilateral hearing loss was considered to be a preexisting condition, and there was no evidence of aggravation during service. Tinnitus was also considered a preexisting condition with no evidence of in-service aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. Bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure. Tinnitus is considered likely caused by the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss. PTSD is linked to a credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 13, 2011, for the award of a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that it is factually ascertainable that an increase in PTSD symptomatology occurred on approximately September 13, 2010.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,For the throat disorder, the Veteran's in-service complaint was treated as an upper respiratory infection (URI), and there is no indication that he has had any ongoing issues with his throat since service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable from February 12, 2008, to September 15, 2013, and at a 10 percent evaluation since September 16, 2013. The Board finds that the current evaluations are adequate.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 40 percent since January 3, 2014. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Board finds that they are not related to his military service.