Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by level II hearing impairment in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that the criteria for a compensable rating are not met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist to address whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service and if so, whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and low back disorder are not service-connected as they are not shown to be causally related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 8, 2017 were denied as his hearing did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. For evaluations on or after June 8, 2017, he was granted a 20 percent evaluation but still does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the RO. The Board found that the current disability ratings assigned were accurate and appropriately reflected his hearing loss under the provisions of VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin rash, back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and heart disability. The evidence submitted since previous decisions was found to be cumulative or redundant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not present during active duty or to a compensable level for many years thereafter, and are not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and due process matters regarding his claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent from March 6, 2012, to September 24, 2013, and in excess of 40 percent from September 24, 2013, for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not related to his active duty service. As such, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability and an increased rating for PTSD. The left ear hearing loss is linked to noise exposure during active duty, while the PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to January 12, 2016, and at 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether his condition had its onset during service. The heart condition issue and hearing loss rating are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his hearing loss, knee conditions, and neck condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is related to his military service, including the conceded acoustic trauma during service. The current opinion from September 2010 is inadequate as it did not consider the Veteran's post-service occupational noise exposure and his testimony regarding the onset of his symptomatology.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was previously denied for ischemic optic neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking it to herbicide or radiation exposure. The claim has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Board videoconference hearing. The claims for increased ratings and service connection remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left knee condition with residual scars are related to his military service. The claim for a bilateral foot condition is being remanded as it requires additional development.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the failure to readjudicate the case after a March 2014 VA examination.