Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, skin rash, migraine headaches, and left lower extremity disorder were granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also granted. A rating of 50 percent was assigned for the period prior to April 17, 2014, and a higher rating is sought.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss disability. The Veteran's claim for tinnitus has been granted.

The claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the intertwined nature with another claim (right ear hearing loss) that was remanded by the Board. The right ear hearing loss claim will be further developed and then adjudicated, which may affect the TDIU decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the reopening of a claim for service connection for DJD of both knees. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from January 22, 2004, until November 17, 2008, and then at 70 percent thereafter. His diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent prior to May 6, 2015, and 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the extremities were all rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is attributable to his active service. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to TCE at Castle Air Force Base and thus has a connection between this exposure and his diabetes.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability effective June 24, 2011. Prior to that date, the Veteran's hearing loss did not warrant any compensation.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss of the left ear but granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's hearing impairment is not presumed due to noise exposure, and there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest in service, within one year of separation, and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including the submission of a VA Form 21-8940 and consideration of his service-connected disabilities in determining whether he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a hearing loss disability, back disability, and skin disability. However, these claims are denied as there is no current disability found in VA compensation purposes.,For the left ankle and right thumb disabilities, the Veteran's claims have been denied as his current complaints do not correlate with any in-service injury or exposure.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for diabetes mellitus, bilateral foot neuropathy, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss as they were withdrawn by the Veteran during his October 2017 Travel Board hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have originated during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected sensorineural hearing loss, left ear is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, depression, neuralgia of the temporomandibular joint, and a left eye disorder are all granted based on direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran incurred such during active duty. The hearing loss issue is remanded and will be considered in conjunction with the TDIU issue.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and consideration of private audiometry reports submitted by the Veteran.