Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for his right knee, bilateral hearing loss, deviated septum, pes planus, or hammer toes.

The Veteran's latest audiometric examinations show that he has level II right ear hearing loss and level II left ear hearing loss, which are the worst levels of hearing loss observed for the period on appeal. The criteria for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.

The Veteran's asthma is related to his in-service injury and the Board has found that it meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service, nor may their incurrence or aggravation be presumed. The evidence does not support a finding of chronic hearing loss during service, and there is no medical opinion linking the current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist regarding the relationship between his current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities and service. The AOJ should also schedule the Veteran for a DRO hearing at the appropriate RO pertaining to his claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and erosive gastritis.

The Veteran's hearing loss was reduced from 60% to 40% effective May 1, 2016. The Board found that the reduction was proper and denied an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, including exposure to noise from medivac helicopters and a severe case of meningitis. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo are related to his military service. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to their combined effect. The Veteran suffered a cerebrovascular accident in November 2016, which limits his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected shell fragment wound, dorsal lumbar area and iliac spine, muscle group XX with foreign bodies is rated at 60 percent, which meets the schedular requirement for TDIU.,The Veteran has a combined rating of 70 percent or more due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to any event, injury, or disease during military service.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development as requested in the June 2017 Board remand. The Veteran's April 2016 audiogram results need to be added to his file, and any relevant VA clinical documentation not already of record should also be associated with the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss, digestive disorder (GERD), and pulmonary disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for head tremors and a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment, and the objective testing showed consistent noncompensable disability ratings.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability has not been present during the pendency of his claim.,Throughout the initial rating period, the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was no worse than Level I hearing impairment.

The Veteran's appeal of the claims for a separate rating for anxiety disorder, increased ratings for right hip and right knee disabilities, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted with an initial rating of 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as the evidence shows exposure to acoustic trauma during service and current symptoms that have persisted since discharge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, as well as whether his arthritis is related to service. The issues on appeal include a claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus, and service connection for a systemic arthritis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and scar. The service connection claim will be remanded as well.