Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are not severe enough to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his active duty service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's PTSD, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches are all found to be related to his service. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent from March 24, 2014 to present.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and for compensable disability ratings for scars on the left knee and right lower abdomen have been withdrawn. The appeal regarding an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD has also been dismissed as there is no evidence of entitlement to such an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left ear hearing loss. Outstanding medical records must also be obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, skin cancer, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that the Veteran meets criteria for a 50 percent evaluation prior to October 1, 2015, and a 70 percent evaluation thereafter for his PTSD. However, the issues of service connection for hypertension and skin cancer are not addressed as they were previously resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a painful chest scar. The Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was found to be aggravated by service. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. An initial 10% rating is assigned for the Veteran's painful chest scar.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, did not have its onset in service or within the initial post separation year and is not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. Similarly, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not shown to have had its onset in service or within the initial post separation year, nor is it related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and found to be no worse than a 20 percent rating, as per the VA Rating Schedule. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on his audiometric test results.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was also granted for residuals of cold injuries to the lower extremities. The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, low back disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected, while his right ear hearing loss and bilateral foot disability are not. GERD was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent prior to May 20, 2017 and at 30 percent thereafter. The reduction from 10 percent to noncompensable effective October 1, 2011 was proper.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional audiometry records and seeking an opinion on whether earlier non-Maryland CNC tests are consistent with later Maryland CNC tests. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for hearing loss prior to June 21, 2016 remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, with the Board finding that his current diagnoses are related to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate VA examination to address whether the Veteran's tinnitus is aggravated by his service-connected right ear hearing loss.