Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained during active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board found that the Appellant's back disability is not related to his military service and denied the claim.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original disability rating of 40 percent for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that there was no improvement in his condition under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these issues.,Service connection for lung cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his exposure to noise trauma during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was rated at 60 percent prior to May 27, 2016 and remains at 60 percent thereafter. The Board denied an increased rating for the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent was assigned for each condition.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and restrictive right lobe condition are at least in equipoise with respect to their onset during service, warranting service connection.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and a restrictive right lobe condition.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since April 26, 2011. The VA examinations conducted during the appeal period showed pure tone thresholds consistent with Level I hearing loss in both ears.

The Veteran's asthma, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, and depression), back disability, cervical spine disability, heart disability, bilateral ankle disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral shoulder disability are not service connected. The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss were found to be aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 29, 2010. From that date until the present, his PTSD alone does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for dementia, but the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to incomplete audiometric testing data.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification of private audiogram results and obtaining updated VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain clarification on the speech discrimination test used in his June 2012 audiological evaluation, and for additional VA examinations. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disability (TDIU) is also inextricably intertwined with the hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and his employment difficulties are attributed to non-service connected factors.

The Veteran has a current bilateral hearing loss disability and the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether this condition is related to service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of his separation, and there is no evidence linking it to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting his claim for TDIU.