Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the case.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increase in disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip injury, to include degenerative joint disease, was denied as there is no evidence of a left hip injury or disease during service and the current condition did not manifest within one year after service separation.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The appeal is currently in process and will be handled expeditiously.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder did not manifest during or as a result of active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and residuals of right leg burn. The skin disorder is considered to be new and material as it was not previously evaluated due to lack of evidence in service records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA audiometric evaluation results and scheduling a VA examination to determine the severity of his left ear hearing loss. The issue regarding what evaluation is in order for right ear conductive hearing loss is intertwined with the service connection claim. For the 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 claim, a statement of the case must be issued and the Veteran has the opportunity to file a substantive appeal if he chooses.

The Veteran's asthma was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, as it existed prior to his entrance into active duty.,Service connection for sinusitis, deviated nasal septum, and bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and has continued since then, granting service connection for tinnitus. The hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 8, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new audiometric examination and an opinion regarding the relationship between his hearing loss and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and the Board finds that referral to the Director, VA Compensation and Pension Service, is not warranted.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since July 11, 2015. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that the Veteran's current level of hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability, and his in-service hearing was within normal limits. The examiner concluded that any hearing loss is not related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent from November 12, 2009 to September 7, 2016. The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss were both found not to warrant compensable ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and left ear hearing loss were granted service connection, with the bilateral pes planus receiving an initial rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left shoulder disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted a noncompensable initial disability rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as his hearing impairment did not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to September 10, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have any currently diagnosed residuals of gallbladder removal and denied his claim for service connection. The claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and lower extremities were also denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.