Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her obstructive ventilator defect and residual scars from a thoracotomy, do not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule. The Board found that the evidence did not support an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment warranting consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability had its clinical onset due to acoustic trauma sustained in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, and ischemic heart disease were denied. The claim for service connection for PTSD was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service or presumptively presumed under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, large disc extrusion at L5-S1 (claimed as lower back pain), and numbness in the hands and fingers were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability or a disease during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the disability picture is not outside what is contemplated by the schedular rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and right ear hearing loss, as well as his attempts to reopen the claim for service connection for sinusitis were denied. The Board also found that there was no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury during active duty service that resulted in an additional disability or aggravation of his congenital Chiari malformation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective October 13, 2011. The TDIU claim was denied as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since January 2013. The Board found that the current evidence does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right shoulder disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.,For bilateral hearing loss, the VA examination revealed normal hearing sensitivity.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was denied by the Board. The evidence showed that his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and concluded that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider the Veteran's statements regarding in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete factual premise in a previous opinion, and further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's left ear sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is less than the schedular percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran. The Board dismissed this issue as a result.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiological addendum report and consideration of noise exposure during service.