Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was rated as 30 percent disabling from March 23, 2017 forward. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed as he withdrew them prior to the decision. The Board also granted entitlement to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to multiple service-connected conditions preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The claim for TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as her audiometric test results did not meet the definition of hearing loss under VA regulations, and there is no evidence to support a finding that she had a hearing disability during service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for bone spurs on feet, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran will need to provide authorization for VA to obtain his Social Security Administration records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no objective evidence showing that his hearing impairment has worsened since the last evaluation.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently service-connected and rated at 30 percent. The claim for increased evaluation of right ankle sprain with traumatic arthritis was granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection. The effective date for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss is set at January 15, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a current disability and the VA examiner concluded that it is less likely than not caused by or related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to her service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD and heart disability. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was initially denied for a compensable rating prior to March 29, 2018. Since then, the Veteran has been granted a 20 percent disability rating effective from March 29, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD and CAD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria. The claims for PTSD and major depressive disorder were also denied as there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between the conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed disabilities and his active duty service, including hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and any potential connection with service-related acoustic trauma.