Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities have been evaluated at the lowest possible ratings, with no evidence of exceptional or unusual impairment warranting higher ratings. The claim for increased ratings is denied.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new opinion from an examiner regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are related to in-service noise exposure. Additional development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his noise exposure during active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, and varicose veins of the left leg, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no in-service injury or event related to the cervical spine disability, and thus denied service connection.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be caused by noise exposure during service, as evidenced by inconsistent treatment records and a VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and prostate cancer. The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, right wrist condition, bilateral arm condition, and bilateral leg condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. With reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for entitlement to service connection have been met for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence received since the final November 2009 RO rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims. The Board also granted service connection for both conditions based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as his hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown to be related to service. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing loss is more likely due to presbycusis (normal aging process) rather than in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing disability meeting VA criteria.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, GERD, and tinnitus are both April 22, 2013, which is one year prior to the date the claim was received.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD or a disability rating greater than 10 percent for GERD. The Veteran does not have total occupational and social impairment due to his PTSD, nor has he demonstrated symptom combinations productive of considerable or severe impairment of health due to his GERD.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated 90 percent disabling and prevent him from obtaining and retaining gainful employment for which he would otherwise be qualified. Therefore, the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The respiratory disorder claim has been found not to be supported by evidence.

The Veteran's hearing impairment has been rated at 10 percent for the period from August 9, 2011 to June 28, 2016 and at 20 percent thereafter. The criteria for increased ratings have not been met.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable prior to May 25, 2017, and 10 percent thereafter. The Board denied a higher rating for the period before April 4, 2013, and granted a 10 percent rating since that date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a TDIU prior to September 8, 2008 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for hearing loss or entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.