Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. A social and industrial survey will also be conducted to determine if he qualifies for TDIU.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric results did not meet the criteria for any higher rating prior to April 10, 2015 and were only rated at 10% thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, providing proper VCAA notice, and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dislocated ribs have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the March 2010 rating decision that granted service connection for otitis externa and denied service connection for hearing loss and asthma. The issue of timeliness of NOD is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and finds that service connection for this condition should be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure during active service, while his tinnitus is also linked to such exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for hemorrhoids and service connection for left ear hearing loss have been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the remaining claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the purpose of obtaining VA audiology consult results and treatment records to determine his current level of bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied in April 2008. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at June 8, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for additional examinations.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds no evidence to support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be no worse than Level III in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine for an 80 percent rating and render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is currently at 70 percent, effective from January 19, 2011 to October 1, 2015. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or warrant an increased combined rating.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims currently on appeal, including those related to type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, PTSD, diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeal is dismissed.