Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are attributable to in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

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

The Veteran's service connection claim for basal cell carcinoma is granted, and his hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that there is no audiological evidence of record to support an initial compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of any new or material evidence to reopen the claim, and the current disability level does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder is granted, effective June 26, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the claim for an extraschedular rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are contemplated by the existing rating criteria and that his disability does not present an exceptional or unusual picture.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records related to the Veteran's left ear condition, scheduling a new VA examination, and obtaining any necessary follow-up information.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability and another VA examination by an audiologist.

The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss disability were not shown to be related to service or any service-connected conditions. The Board denied the claims for these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to July 19, 2012. Therefore, TDIU is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability and thus, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Additional development is required regarding an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran has been rated as 60 percent disabled for back disability since May 15, 1996. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities and grants TDIU from May 15, 1996 to January 23, 2007.

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