Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has ordered the case REMANDED to the AOJ for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case addressing all issues currently on appeal, including consideration of additional evidence added to the record since the August 2012 statement of the case.

The Veteran's combined rating of 80 percent due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, precludes him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence supports a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder NOS), left gluteus shell fragment wound, and scar formation in left gluteus have been denied as there is no evidence of a service connection relationship to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and hypertension have not been rated higher than the current noncompensable (0%) ratings for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was found to have manifested during service and is granted as service connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it is etiologically related to noise exposure during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and is now addressing the issue of a compensable initial rating for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims are both granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU was denied as there were no pending claims prior to October 1, 2012 and the criteria for a schedular TDIU had not been met.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral ear hearing loss on or after September 6, 2013 was denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.,PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum available under current criteria. The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification of a private audiometric examination report and further VA examination.

The Board denied increased ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and cognitive impairment due to TBI, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not warrant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been granted, effective from June 27, 2011. The other issues have not been resolved.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as a result of in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's assertions regarding the onset and progression of these conditions are considered credible.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete service records and need for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, right elbow disability, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for higher evaluations of his service-connected conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss. The issues raised include TDIU.