Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability warrants a 20 percent rating for the period from September 16, 1981 to December 17, 1987 and a 20 percent rating for the period from December 18, 1987 to June 10, 1999.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to insufficient evidence of the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hearing loss, right ear is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of whether he has a distinct diagnosis of vertigo.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a failure to comply with its directives in March 2015. The case is now being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service, while his sinus condition is not. The claim for a sinus condition remains denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset during service, were not manifested to a compensable degree within one year following separation from service, and are not related to an injury or event in service. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a current disability within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected due to acoustic trauma. His diabetes mellitus with hypertension and retinopathy, along with its associated neuropathies, are also service-connected based on direct evidence of a nexus.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating for hearing loss, earlier effective date for PTSD, and specially adapted housing or special home adaptation have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 23, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to administrative errors and needs further development before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are also remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran currently does not have a groin disorder of service origin and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound, including for his spouse.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has not been found to warrant a higher rating than the current noncompensable (0%) rating.

The Veteran does not have a current disability for the purposes of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder, is not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results, and thus denied the claim for an increased rating. For the period from February 1, 2008 to December 7, 2011, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities other than PTSD were not independently ratable at 60 percent or more, and therefore he was not permanently housebound by reason of service-connected disability or disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability was incurred in or otherwise resulted from military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spondylosis, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran was also denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and right hand degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran is already service-connected for residual scar, status post excision of growth of the neck, but no other cervical spine scars have been established.