Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and bilateral hearing loss meet the threshold requirements for a TDIU, as his combined disability ratings satisfy the criteria. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 16, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including a new VA audiological examination and clarification of speech recognition test results.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, erectile dysfunction (secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2), and right wrist disorder claimed as hand injury due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The remaining issues remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right forehead scar and left ear hearing loss were denied. The low back disability claim was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical spine disability was not rated higher than 60 percent, the psychiatric disability prior to May 15, 2014, was not rated higher than 30 percent, and from that date onwards, it was not rated higher than 70 percent. Bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and does not have a current psychiatric disorder. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The evidence shows that his current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was established for a cervical spine disorder, with the onset likely occurring during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's memory loss disability is not attributable to service, including herbicide exposure. The Board finds no evidence of a current memory loss disability and the medical opinions are against this claim.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, including obtaining records from a VA Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia. The case is being remanded to allow this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not aggravated during service and is not shown to have been aggravated by any service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for bilateral pes planus cannot be established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability in either ear, as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service, as well as any potential aggravation by a service-connected disability. The Veteran will need to undergo further examination and an opinion on these matters.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated and found to be at Level I in both ears, resulting in a zero percent rating. The Board determined that this did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability warrants a 10 percent rating, effective June 26, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and his bilateral hearing loss was rated at 50 percent. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU or SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence supports a nexus between noise exposure in service and current hearing loss and tinnitus.