Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely related to his military service.,His low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and osteopenia with discogenic disease at L5-S1, is also likely related to his service-connected left knee disability. His acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD) is linked to his now service-connected low back disability.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records, as well as providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is related to his in-service acoustic trauma and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum percentage requirements for award of a schedular TDIU, and these disabilities are not shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing speech discrimination testing results and arranging for a VA audiology examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions listed.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete examination opinions and other procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, as his in-service noise exposure and current symptoms are consistent with continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran was not found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to November 13, 2006. His TDIU claim is therefore denied for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation. The claim for an initial compensable rating for a left chest scar associated with a GSW was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically his anxiety disorder and bilateral hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA audiology records and a need for new examinations of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and posttraumatic disequilibrium.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The effective date of his 100% rating for coronary artery disease needs clarification, and he may be scheduled for an audiometric evaluation to determine if his hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending appeals, including those for increased rating for PTSD, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Gulf War Syndrome-related conditions (including a bilateral knee condition, headaches, joint pain, a neurologic disorder, and a skin rash), and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a sleep disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, diabetes mellitus type 2, and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (also claimed as lymphoma), but denied reopening of these claims due to lack of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, without considering non-service connected conditions, were not so severe as to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Veteran does not have a disability rated at 100% and has not been otherwise rendered in need of regular aid and attendance based on his service-connected disabilities.