Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lung disorder are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The hearing loss issue remains pending as it requires additional VA examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied prior to September 12, 2011. However, beginning on that date, the Veteran is now entitled to a 10% disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his pure tone thresholds do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's auditory disability rating schedule.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable since April 18, 2011. The VA examinations have consistently shown that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective February 13, 2009. Hearing loss of the right ear is service connected and hearing loss of the left ear warrants a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 70 percent since February 25, 2010. The Board finds that the objective audiometric testing results do not support an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was evaluated as zero percent disabling in all four audiometric examinations conducted during the appeal period. The Board determined that a compensable rating is not warranted based on these evaluations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to service exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an esophageal disorder, a left leg disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not show current disabilities at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a headache disorder (secondary to tinnitus), and an increased rating for his left great toe disability were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss, and that there was insufficient medical opinion linking the current conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including GI disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, facial nerve paralysis, panic disorder, and coronary artery disease. The decision found that these disabilities were not related to service.

The case is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development and readjudication.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability was not incurred in-service and is not related to his active service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also not incurred in-service, are not related to his active service, and did not manifest within one year after separation from active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection was also granted for bruxism as secondary to PTSD, and for peripheral neuropathy of the BLE and BUE due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability can be decided. The Veteran's audiometric findings are unclear, and a remand is needed to obtain clarification from Dr. Callahan regarding whether his audiograms were conducted using the Maryland CNC Test. Additionally, a VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability began in service or is otherwise related to a disease or injury in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to service, and his bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or hypertension as these conditions are not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension have been granted service connection. The claims for a compensable evaluation for condyloma acuminate, service connection for dermatophytosis, and service connection for heart disability are denied.