Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings for his claimed conditions, finding no evidence of a current disability or causation in service.

The Veteran's July 1969 discharge is dishonorable for VA purposes and serves as a bar to the payment of VA compensation benefits for disability resulting from his second period of service. Service connection for PTSD, alcohol and substance use disorders, and prostate cancer are not granted due to the statutory character of discharge bar.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), hiatal hernia (GERD), blood clots, night sweats, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are all service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claims for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide agent exposure.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hearing loss is manifested by puretone threshold averages below 70 decibels in both ears, and speech recognition scores above 90 percent for both ears. The preponderance of the evidence shows that the criteria for a compensable rating have not been satisfied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected as it is at least as likely as not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating based on the Veteran's audiometric test results.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent from May 10, 2010, to September 29, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to his testimony that his bilateral hearing loss had subjectively worsened since his last examination. The case is being returned for a new VA audiological examination and for obtaining outstanding SSA and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 80 percent from August 19, 2017. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. His combined disability rating meets the criteria for a TDIU as of March 22, 2017.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to August 28, 2017. As of that date, the rating has been increased to 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left hip osteoarthritis and total left hip replacement, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection has been established due to exposure to noise during service and continuity of symptoms since then.,The Veteran's stomach disorder is granted as service connection has been reopened with evidence showing current gastrointestinal symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an increased rating for migraine headaches.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PFB, right and left knee disorders, right and left hip disorders, sinus disorder, and tinnitus. The reasons provided were that there was no evidence of arthritis during service or within one year after discharge, and current diagnoses did not link these conditions to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected and warrants a rating of 10 percent, effective April 1, 2011. For his bilateral pes planus, the Board finds that he is entitled to a 30 percent rating prior to April 1, 2011, and a 50 percent rating from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development.