Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including noise exposure during military service. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and his TDIU claim has been granted with an effective date of November 20, 2014.,His service-connected disabilities precluded gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience since November 20, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, as his education and work experience allow for less demanding business work.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be attributable to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted due to the presumption of service connection for chronic diseases, as established by his in-service onset and continued presence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, sleep disorder, ankle disorder, swelling of joints, and dizziness are also addressed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent prior to July 16, 2015 and no higher. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating for any period.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives regarding obtaining a discharge examination from November 28, 1970. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is now pending again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss had its onset in service, while his right ear hearing loss was not present during service or for years thereafter and is not caused by any incident of service. As a result, the Veteran is granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus, type I, but not secondary to a pre-existing eye or foot disorder. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptoms for the claimed eye and foot disorders.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but he is now receiving a noncompensable disability rating.,His claim for an increased rating for sinusitis prior to October 1, 2013 and a higher rating thereafter has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, but his combined disability rating is not sufficient to establish entitlement due to lack of additional service-connected disability bringing the total to at least 40%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examinations. The issues include service connection for various conditions, a higher rating for his lumbar disability, and TDIU.

The Veteran's acne vulgaris and PTSD have been rated, but the TDIU claim is still pending as there has not been a final decision regarding it. The Board granted a 100% schedular rating for PTSD from January 27, 2014, which resolved the issue of TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including clarification of his claim for TDIU and consideration of an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and rationale provided in a previous VA examination. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is being reviewed again with an addendum opinion from a suitable replacement audiologist.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied as he refused to report for VA examinations without good cause shown.