Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from June 30, 2009 to February 10, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a hearing on the issue of bilateral hearing loss and issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding the remaining issues. The appellant must file a substantive appeal to continue their appeal.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease is rated at 100% effective July 19, 2013. His hearing loss and tinnitus are separately evaluated.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service, with consideration given to the continuity of symptomatology and credible lay evidence. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further development of the record, including scheduling him for a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and seeking an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the April 2011 VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his right ear hearing loss claim, including the need for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The left ear hearing loss rating issue remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a compensable hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, denied his claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, bipolar disorder, and a low heart rate. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left thigh muscle injury and bilateral foot disorders, were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed injuries or conditions.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased evaluations of his right acoustic neuroma with bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and right knee disabilities. Additionally, he seeks service connection for pes planus, dizziness, headaches, eczema and bilateral eye disorders. The Board has determined that the issues need to be remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his current disability level does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and cold injury residuals of the right and left feet, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as he does not have a current hearing disability of sufficient severity to constitute a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current back disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus and his active service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his employability given his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD. The case will be returned to the Board after further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 40 percent since August 15, 2013. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his hearing impairment is no worse than Level VII in both ears.

The Veteran's hearing impairment is rated at 40 percent, which meets the threshold percentage requirements for a TDIU. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.