Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of service, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There was no medical opinion establishing a link between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss have not been found to be service-connected or warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left ear hearing loss and skin condition. For the period prior to April 7, 2017, he was not granted a compensable rating for his actinic keratosis, multiple, with basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma excisions. After that date, he did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for bilateral hearing loss, knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, or left foot disability. Therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable, as he has a history of steady employment and current full-time employment. The Board finds that the service-connected disabilities were not sufficiently incapacitating to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss, sinus disease (allergic rhinitis), and chronic headaches. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to inadequate etiological opinions regarding his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, with a combined rating of 0 percent. The VA has determined that the current ratings under the applicable criteria do not meet the requirements for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after separation from service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss is related to military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is related to service and granted his claim for service connection. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, was also found to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including maxillary sinusitis, headaches, PTSD, fracture of the right zygoma, bilateral hearing loss, and facial sinus injury residuals of the 5th right cranial nerve, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 30, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability, but has determined that new evidence does not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records, specifically audiogram results from June 28, 2013 and November 25, 2016. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is on hold until these records are obtained.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not show current disabilities related to active duty service or event/occurrence therein.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to May 16, 2012. The Board also granted a TDIU for the period from May 10, 2011 to May 16, 2012. However, the TDIU claim was denied prior to May 10, 2011.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, and will now assign a disability rating and effective date. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with this grant of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during active service. The hearing loss claim is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that is related to service.