Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and asbestosis) are rated at 90 percent combined, which meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU rating. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable due to their severity and his limited education and work experience.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals regarding the reopening of claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his service, and granted service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss were denied, but new evidence submitted since the last denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran now has service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently manifested by Level XI hearing in the right ear and Level I hearing in the left ear, resulting in a 10 percent disability rating. The Board finds that this level of hearing impairment does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining STRs and arranging for an audiological evaluation to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as a TDIU claim. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the decision-making process.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but these claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current hearing disabilities.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for cold injury residuals of the upper extremities. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the current diagnoses of these conditions are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss during or within a year after his separation from service. His claims for increased ratings for shoulder disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the appeal is now remanded due to a possible worsening of his condition since the last examination.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are presumed to be related to in-service noise exposure, while his residuals of abdominal aneurysm repair surgery caused additional disability not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.