Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the appeal due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's hearing loss evaluations and for issuance of a Statement of the Case on the issues of service connection for hepatitis B, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, pseudo folliculitis barbae, and vertigo.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of exceptional pattern of hearing loss or impairment that warrants a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and service connection for tinnitus is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board also found that the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar DDD from August 27, 2007 are not met and that the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent since July 23, 2013 are not met. The Board also found that an extraschedular evaluation based on the cumulative impact of service-connected PTSD and DJD with PFS of each knee is precluded.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, left foot disability, and heart disorder are not related to his active service. The evidence does not show a current disability for VA purposes or any link between these conditions and service.

The Board found that there is no current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss. The respiratory disorder was not related to service, as evidenced by the lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed cardiac disability, to include angina and ischemic heart disease. The claim for service connection for hearing loss is remanded as additional evidence was submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the service connection claims for right ear hearing loss and erectile dysfunction. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim was denied, while his PTSD claim resulted in a grant of a 70% disability rating prior to August 31, 2010. The decision is mixed as it addresses both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for daily personal needs without regular assistance from others or to protect himself from the hazards of his daily environment.

The Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to a compensable disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence does not demonstrate that he meets or approximates the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise related to his military noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling since May 6, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted. The Veteran was awarded service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, and service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to his service-connected post-concussional syndrome with cerebellar dysfunction.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his bilateral hearing loss, left foot surgery residuals (heel spurs), and right foot metatarsalgia. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his active service and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.