Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and conducting an examination.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board upheld the reduction of the Veteran's hearing loss rating from 100% to 20%, effective August 1, 2017. The decision was based on clear and unmistakable error in the February 2014 grant of a 100% rating due to incorrect application of Table VI instead of Table VIa for speech discrimination scores.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his many years of noise exposure during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for chronic headaches is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's lay statements are considered, but a VA audiologist is needed to provide an opinion on whether his hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination for his right knee disability and an adequate medical opinion regarding his bilateral hearing loss. The issues of increased ratings for tinnitus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been denied. The Veteran is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, the claims are denied.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral hearing loss or chronic sinusitis, and the Board finds that these claims are denied.,Regarding hemorrhoids, the Veteran has been granted service connection as his residuals from a previous surgery are considered to be related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased evaluation and his TDIU claim is denied as he is able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible schedular rating of 70 percent, effective August 7, 2012. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is due to exposure to hazardous noise levels during service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder, to include COPD and bilateral hearing loss. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim for hypertension is inextricably intertwined with the psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD effective July 13, 2010. The Veteran's hypertension and kidney disorder are related to herbicide exposure, while hearing loss is not currently shown in either ear.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to ensure a complete record prior to adjudicating the Veteran's claims. This includes obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records, scheduling an appropriate VA examination for each issue on appeal, and considering whether service connection can be granted based on direct evidence of a link between current disabilities and service.