Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's gout was granted service connection, and he received a non-compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were also granted service connection with a non-compensable rating. His left inguinal hernia, impotence, tendonitis of the right wrist, sinusitis with headaches, skin disease, and meralgia paresthetica of the right thigh are all rated as non-compensable. The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection effective September 20, 2007, and he received a 30 percent rating for it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 6, 2007 and greater than 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as a whole, and he is capable of securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not sufficient by themselves to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased disability ratings for the Veteran's knee disabilities. The appeal is now pending on issues related to TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disabilities, as well as his petition to reopen previously denied claims for gallbladder and stomach ulcer conditions. The appeal is dismissed for the remaining issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private audiological treatment records, scheduling a VA audiology evaluation, and issuing a statement of the case regarding SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or on account of housebound status.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 40 percent for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a heart disability, to include as due to exposure to an herbicidal agent and as secondary to a service-connected disability is dismissed. The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is dismissed. The Veteran's appeal for total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in permanent and total disability that is due to the loss or loss of use of one or both lower extremities so as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. As such, he is entitled to a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's increased rating claims for lumbosacral strain, cervical spine subluxation, right elbow epicondylitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed hearing loss, tinnitus, and heart disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss that relates to service and the claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and to provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and right acoustic schwannoma, as well as determining whether these conditions are related to service. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.