Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and clarification of the medical records, as well as for new opinions regarding his hearing loss and foot frostbite conditions.

The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the VA criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of various conditions, including PTSD. The initial rating for PTSD prior to April 30, 2009, and on and after December 1, 2009, was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability during service and determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted a 10% evaluation effective June 22, 2016. Prior to this date, the disability had been rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is currently receiving a 10 percent disability rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in his disability rating beyond 10 percent from April 1, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable or higher rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's hearing impairment is no worse than Level IV in the right ear and Level VII in the left ear, resulting in a 20 percent rating. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including obtaining records related to any claims for retirement/disability benefits from Philadelphia Fire Disability. The case will then be returned to the Board for readjudication.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, CAD and hypertension were all found to be related to his service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of whether the appellant filed a timely notice of disagreement with regard to the effective date assigned for SMC remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and lung disorder, finding no current disability related to these conditions. The Veteran was not diagnosed with a lung disorder at his September 2016 VA examination, and there is no evidence of any current hearing loss or sinusitis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are not directly related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, as well as his assertions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and headaches. The case is therefore being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for lower urinary tract symptoms, hemorrhoids, and athlete's foot. The Veteran's LUTS was incurred in service, his hemorrhoids were incurred in service, and his athlete's foot disability is aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss were incurred in service. The Veteran will now be granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for bilateral hearing loss and denied the claim for a left shoulder disorder due to lack of probative evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature, severity, and origin of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service, including noise exposure. The claim for service connection for lung disease (claimed as COPD) is denied.