Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent for any portion of the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and TDIU as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that his current hearing loss disability began in or is related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are shown to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective December 9, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus began during active duty and has continued to the present. The Veteran's current back disability, variously diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, and spondylolysis, is related to service.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of shrapnel wounds to the right shoulder and buttock due to in-service noise exposure and combat injuries. The Veteran's claims are supported by his personal accounts, medical records, and statements from fellow servicemen.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his bilateral hearing loss and right long finger disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The effective date of service connection for his hearing loss was established as October 15, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (rated 60 percent combined, and individually as follows: 60 percent for bilateral hearing loss; and 10 percent for tinnitus) preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The appeal is not ready for appellate review until this hearing is scheduled.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to determine if his current hearing loss disability had onset in service or was caused by noise exposure during military service. For his basal cell carcinoma of the right infraorbital area, a VA examination will be conducted to assess whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition had onset in service or was caused by Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, specifically noise exposure during active duty. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment from February 11, 2008 through January 24, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during his active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) due to the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if his service-connected conditions alone result in the need for such benefits.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by hearing impairment corresponding to auditory acuity of no more than level III in the right ear and level I in the left ear during the entire appeal period. The criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met.