Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is unrelated to his active military service, including his presumed exposure to noise. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance, as his mobility and vision impairments are due to nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot plantar fibromas and achilles tendonitis, right foot plantar fibromas and retro calcaneal spur, and right hip traumatic arthritis. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss in service or within one year after separation. The heart bypass surgery is considered a direct result of his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to an event or injury in service. The Board also found that his right ear hearing loss is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete records.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss since November 18, 2014 was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher scheduler evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his period of active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, including noise exposure from gunfire. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was not a service-connected disability. The Board finds that pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which caused or substantially contributed to the Veteran's death, was not demonstrated in service and is not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for spina bifida with congenital spine fusion, D-12 to L-1 and bilateral hearing loss disability. The examiner found no evidence of a superimposed injury or disease upon the congenital abnormality, and concluded that it was less likely than not that the Veteran incurred any disability of the low back in service or sustained an additional disability upon the congenital abnormality. For his bilateral hearing loss claim, the VA examiner concluded that it was less likely than not caused by or a result of an event in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased or compensable ratings for left ear otitis media, perforated left ear tympanic membrane, and left ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing an exceptional disability picture that renders application of the regular rating criteria impractical.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the requirements for a compensable rating, as his puretone threshold averages do not exceed 25 decibels in either ear and his speech recognition scores are at or above 90 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran's functional impact is contemplated by the schedular rating criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the cause of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is service-connected, as it meets the criteria for a qualifying disability and there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of in-service noise exposure leading to current hearing impairment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for a more thorough examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a current disability in any of these conditions as per VA standards. For PTSD, the Board found that the Veteran's stressor was credible and linked to his military service. However, for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees, the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that an extraschedular TDIU rating is denied.