Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted as of February 10, 2010. A higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not involve loss of use of one or both feet, loss of use of one or both hands, permanent impairment of vision of both eyes, a severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or ankylosis of one or both knees or one or both hips. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disability. The reopened claims are being remanded to further develop the evidence.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected. The Board finds no evidence of lower extremity Raynaud's syndrome or CAD in the record, and thus denies these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records. The issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and left ankle disability are pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran's low back disorder is related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. For his bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran is also granted service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral wrist conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service, except for tinnitus which is presumed due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is the result of in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also granted as it meets the criteria for direct service connection due to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is considered to have been incurred during his active service due to noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chemical burn residuals, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as new and material evidence was not received. The low back disability, neck disability, arthritis of the legs, right hand arthritis, elbow disability, high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, stomach problems, and sinus problems were denied due to lack of in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Veteran's application for a TDIU indicates that he became unable to work as of April 15, 2009 due to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board finds that this matter should be referred to the Director of the Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss disability has not rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the increased rating claim for bilateral otitis media and complications arising therefrom, as well as a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is denied due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C are not related to his service or a service-connected disability, leading to denial of both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and considering the Veteran's claims in light of his claimed sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the majority of issues related to his bilateral hearing loss, rhinitis, right knee disability, back disability, and left knee disability. The case is being remanded due to new evidence received since the last supplemental statement of the case.