Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted since December 20, 2012. The Board finds that the Veteran has been precluded from securing and following substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination as his hearing condition has reportedly worsened since his last evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.,Tinnitus is attributable to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected. The claim for hypertension is granted, but a rating assignment is pending as there was no current disability found at the time of examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, which is presumed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a).

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to December 10, 2014; an evaluation in excess of 20 percent from December 10, 2014 to December 22, 2015; and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent since December 22, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and a heart disorder, to include ischemic heart disease and residuals of myocardial infarction were denied. The claim for an increased rating for left shoulder shrapnel scars was granted with a 10 percent rating effective from November 10, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and heart disability were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a non-compensable rating for actinic keratosis prior to November 21, 2015, and a 10 percent rating effective from that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a current disability in either case, and his symptoms were adequately addressed by the existing ratings.

The Board has determined that further action is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claims are being remanded to obtain updated medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, as well as additional pertinent records from VA and private sources.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, while diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the inability to obtain a December 2011 audiogram from VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, xerosis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling since July 27, 2006. The Board finds that the Veteran has total occupational and social impairment due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was productive of no worse than level I hearing impairment throughout the initial rating period, and thus does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and for increased ratings for hallux valgus of both feet. The Veteran was found not to have a current disability that meets VA criteria for hearing loss in the right ear, and his claim for an increased rating for hallux valgus of the right great toe was denied as well.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.