Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in service, did not manifest within one year of service, and is not attributable to service. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as his audiometric results did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Board granted service connection for CAD with atherosclerotic heart disease and assigned a 60 percent rating effective March 7, 2016. The Veteran's current level of disability is characterized by a workload of greater than 3 METs but less than 5 resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 5, 2009 was denied. From October 5, 2009 onwards, the Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and refractive error (myopia) have been denied as there is no current evidence of a disability meeting the criteria for VA compensation purposes. The claim for right knee disability remains pending due to remand.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of various issues, including service connection claims and extraschedular evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not originate in service or within a year of service, and are not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as zero percent disabling, and his headaches associated with cervical disc disease are not separately compensable.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and anxiety disorder have been rated, with the most recent rating of 50% for anxiety disorder effective August 18, 2016. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset during service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of acinic cell carcinoma of the right parotid gland and granted it. The remaining claims for neck disability, right ear hearing loss, right ear disability (tinnitus), and an acquired psychiatric condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, back disability (including cervical and lumbar spine), obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and psychiatric disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The AOJ will schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board found that there was no evidence to support a service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, as the Veteran's current hearing impairment did not meet VA compensation criteria at separation and there was no medical opinion linking his current condition to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate VA examination opinions and need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was manifested by no worse than Level VII hearing in the right ear and Level VI in the left ear throughout the appeal period, resulting in a disability rating of 30 percent. The Board found that his hearing did not warrant a higher rating.