Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ischemic heart disease, PTSD, type II diabetes mellitus, low back disability, and others, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise as to whether he is unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar pain syndrome, left ankle limited motion, and lower extremity radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. The case will be remanded for a supplemental opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disorder were denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and left knee disorder are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination and consideration of the TDIU claim. The higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and the TDIU claim will be reconsidered in light of all evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted a 10 percent rating for lichen simplex chronicus. The decision is mixed as it addressed both issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated at 70 percent effective from April 11, 2012. The RO found that the Veteran's disability picture warranted a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss or otosclerosis that is related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Biloxi Vet Center and providing a VA examination to assess the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities. The appeal is not yet decided.

The Veteran's current hearing loss is not shown to have had its onset during service or be related to noise exposure in service. The Board finds the June 2015 VHA expert opinion, which considered the Veteran's history of noise exposure and clinical evaluations, to be more persuasive than other opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensable under the VA rating schedule, and does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his claim for TDIU. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to November 1, 2010, for tinnitus and a compensable rating for hypertension. The claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as there was no current diagnosis. The claim of left ear hearing loss was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims of headaches were also not reopened.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and secondary service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an additional VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran is granted special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to blindness.,New evidence has been received to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which remains pending.