Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss alone, without regard to age, does not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the Veteran voluntarily retired from his managerial position in November 1991 due to eligibility for retirement benefits based on age, not due to his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss have been found to be service-connected, with the evidence establishing that these conditions began in service.,New and material evidence has been received for both tinnitus and hearing loss claims, allowing them to be reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for blindness secondary to concussive trauma, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and increased rating for bilateral tinnitus (secondary to bilateral hearing loss).

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on an extra-schedular basis were denied as the symptoms are not considered exceptional or unusual, and the rating criteria adequately describe his disability level and symptomatology.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be proximately caused by his service-connected right papilloma. The Board finds the evidence does not support a grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic sinusitis on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied prior to May 29, 2014. From May 29, 2014 to October 26, 2017, the Veteran is granted a 30% disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss. Since October 27, 2017, he is granted a 40% disability rating.

The Veteran's combined disability rating for service-connected conditions is 60%, which does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, after considering all evidence of record and the policy that veterans who are unable to secure and follow substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities shall be rated totally disabled, the Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been manifested by no worse than a level I hearing loss in the left ear and a level II hearing loss in the right ear, warranting a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, right knee osteoarthritis, and pes planus. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD based on DSM-IV standards.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted with a 10% evaluation effective January 25, 2015. This decision is based on the factually ascertainable increase in his hearing loss within one year prior to his July 31, 2015 claim filing.

The Board has determined that there is no current disability of post-operative residuals of gall bladder disease and thus denied the claim. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was remanded but not yet addressed.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, but determined that new evidence supports reopening of his claim for mid-back disability. The clothing allowance claim was denied as there is no indication that the Veteran uses a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance due to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the preexisting condition did not worsen during service and thus, no service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a new VA audiology examination. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss remains on appeal.

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