Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are related to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's claims have been remanded for additional development regarding his claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, leg cramps, and a bilateral leg disability. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service existence for leg cramps and that the right knee meniscus tear and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease were not related to service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture with related factors as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization, and thus did not meet the criteria for referral to consider an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to assess his lower back disability. The claims will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and medical inquiry, including obtaining SSA records, prison records, and VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and left ear hearing loss are not related to service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during his military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for hearing loss of the right ear and granted service connection. The decision on the left ear issue is pending in the remand portion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to noise. Therefore, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for rescheduling a videoconference hearing due to the Veteran's request. The issues of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to service connection for sinusitis, secondary to asbestos exposure are still pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The issues of increased rating for right knee disability, service connection for hearing loss, and service connection for hepatitis C are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection as they are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a private healthcare provider and determining whether the Veteran's PTSD should be recharacterized to include alcohol abuse. The TDIU claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the examiner found that his hearing loss was most likely age-related. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and GERD are not related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable initial rating is denied.

The Veteran's arrhythmia induced cardiomyopathy with shortness of breath resulted in chronic congestive heart failure, warranting a 100% rating effective from December 6, 2010.,For the period beginning December 6, 2010, the Veteran is entitled to a 100% schedular rating for arrhythmia induced cardiomyopathy with shortness of breath.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his current level of impairment is noncompensable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not considered a disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of an in-service event, injury or disease related to hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending as it was not addressed by the August 2010 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an adequate VA examination.