Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a decision on the Veteran's claims, including obtaining addendum opinions regarding his vertigo and bilateral hearing loss. The issue of TDIU is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorders, leg pain, and foot pain are all under review.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which the VA examiner found less likely than not caused by or related to his military service. The Board finds additional development is necessary due to missing service treatment records and lack of a medical opinion addressing post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected bilateral ear disability other than hearing loss and denied the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right ear disability due to VA treatment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service and specifically noting no evidence of aggravation during service.

The Veteran is found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected left leg thrombophlebitis, which meets the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis. The issue of service connection for hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU beginning March 30, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent, and his PTSD prior to June 16, 2016, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and PTSD have been granted service connection, with the hearing loss being attributed to noise exposure during his combat service. The Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran has a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, was exposed to loud noise in service, and the evidence is at least in equipoise that he had hearing impairment since service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for aid and attendance allowance for J.R. was dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant. The Board granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, finding that the Veteran requires regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depressive disorder NOS is not rated higher than 30 percent, and the initial ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are granted at 20 percent. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 6, 2017 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss from February 6, 2017 to September 27, 2017 was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hearing loss prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his mental health issues are manageable in a solitary work environment.