Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including updated VA examinations and audiograms. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and vertigo are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and eczema were denied. The claim for TDIU was not addressed as it is related to a different issue.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, as evidenced by the improvement in hearing acuity between enlistment and separation. The first post-service finding of a hearing defect was many years after service and there is evidence of post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent from September 25, 2013. Prior to that date, a compensable rating was denied. The appeal has been resolved in favor of the VA.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 29, 2016 and from that date forward was denied. The Board found the available schedular evaluations adequate.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes is likely attributable to in-service noise exposure, and the Board finds that service connection should be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service and his left ear hearing loss is not related to service, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss results in no worse than Level III hearing acuity, and thus does not warrant a compensable initial rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least in equipoise with his service connection claim, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent prior to October 17, 2017, and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The Board found the current ratings appropriate based on the audiometric results.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to his lumbar spine disability), and right lower extremity vascular condition have been granted. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of hearing loss but does not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.,The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic sinusitis was denied, as there is no evidence of a current sinusitis disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis warrants a rating of no more than 30 percent, considering the frequency and severity of his symptoms. The other claims have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination to determine if he has bilateral hearing loss that comports with VA standards and, if so, whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be the result of his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is etiologically related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding his bilateral hearing loss, and because the issue of TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the pending increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination and consideration of his claim for TDIU.