Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct further examination for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD with alcohol abuse, panic attacks, and sleep disturbance remains pending.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus, a heart disability, visual impairment, left leg tumor, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is found to be related to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case for clarification of the speech discrimination scores and obtaining any relevant records from T.W., audiologist. The claims for an increased rating for a bilateral hearing loss disability and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with a noncompensable evaluation assigned prior to April 3, 2015. Effective from April 3, 2015, the Veteran is entitled to a 10 percent disability evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these matters.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensable under the rating criteria, and the Board finds that there is no basis for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims file, including obtaining audiogram results from VA audiological examinations and clarifying speech discrimination testing methods.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling for the period from April 9, 2012 to October 6, 2015 and granted a higher rating of 10 percent since October 7, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have onset during his combat service in Vietnam. The Board grants service connection for these conditions, as well as a TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected PTSD and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and he is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability. The temporary total disability rating for convalescence following his back surgery is also granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus and service connection for hepatitis C, right ear condition other than hearing loss, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for PTSD was granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and service. The claim will be re-adjudicated after obtaining updated VA treatment records and a supplemental opinion from the examiner.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 8, 2014 and as of that date was denied. The Board found the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to July 8, 2014, and a rating in excess of 10 percent as of that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a 10 percent rating effective August 13, 2013. Prior to that date, the claim for higher evaluation was denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as she is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities. The hypertension and hearing loss claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure.