Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that the character of his discharge barred him from receiving VA benefits other than health care under Chapter 17. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which the Board finds was caused by in-service noise exposure. However, due to a lack of audiometric data and conflicting opinions regarding the presence of pre-existing hearing loss prior to service, further medical guidance is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder and a gunshot wound to the right pectoralis major muscle, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus do not result in total occupational and social impairment. The Board denied the initial rating for PTSD and TDIU claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim was withdrawn prior to decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an initial compensable evaluation for aortic aneurysm, or a disability rating in excess of 10 percent disabling prior to April 14, 2005, and 20 percent thereafter, for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disability did not arise during service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to his military service. The claim for low back disability is pending as there was no diagnosis provided in this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disability did not arise during service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to his military service. The claim for low back disability is pending as there was no diagnosis provided in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board also found that the criteria were met for referral to the Director, Compensation Service, for consideration of entitlement to a higher disability rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC benefits by reason of being housebound or based on the need for aid and assistance from another person.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification of a private audiometric examination report from June 2011.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 9, 2008, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter, for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his disability warrants such ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for a bilateral foot disorder.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, which is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain clarification of private audiology test results from Advanced Audiology Institute and Audiology Associates of Las Vegas.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not been manifested by hearing acuity worse than Level I in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his noise exposure during active duty, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no effective date for a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 30, 2008 is being considered as the claim has been closed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, clarify the results of audiometric tests performed in January and February 2014, schedule a VA examination for an up-to-date assessment of his bilateral hearing loss disability, and schedule a VA social and industrial survey to assess his employability.