Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated at a 30% rating, which is the maximum available under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.,For his bilateral hearing loss from August 20, 2013 to October 16, 2017, he received a 10% evaluation. However, after this period, his hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination and the acquisition of relevant treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent prior to December 17, 2015. Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also did not meet the requirements for TDIU prior to November 24, 2014.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, evaluated as 50 percent disabling prior to October 1, 2015 and as 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and obtaining outstanding medical records. The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his condition did not warrant a higher than noncompensable rating from September 9, 2015 and in excess of 10 percent from September 27, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year after discharge. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his audiometric results do not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of worsening during service or a direct relationship.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be at Level II and Level III prior to December 10, 2015, and Level IV since then. The Board denied both the claim for a compensable rating prior to December 10, 2015 and the claim for an increased evaluation after that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current hearing loss or total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD, but granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to August 9, 2010, and a 20 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 50 percent since November 23, 2011. The claim for a higher initial rating for tinnitus was withdrawn by the Veteran in his substantive appeal. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU as the combined rating of service-connected disabilities does not meet the schedular requirements.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background from December 17, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of VA examination records. The Veteran's service records indicate exposure to noise during live fire exercises, helicopter flights, and parachute insertions. Additional medical examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.