Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on continuous post-service symptoms of these conditions, which are considered to be related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran is granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent, but no more, effective since August 25, 2017. Bilateral hearing loss is not compensable.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not present an exceptional disability picture warranting referral for extraschedular consideration. The acquired psychiatric disorder was determined to be secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective prior to September 29, 2015. He also has a TDIU with an effective date of September 29, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between current symptoms and military service.,Service connection was also denied for left and right knee disorders. The examiner noted no medical records indicating any knee conditions during or after service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, as there were no significant threshold shifts in hearing during service and he did not have a hearing loss disability at separation. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so severe that they preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal on the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, increased rating for residuals of wound of the left thigh with fracture of the femur and injury to Muscle Group (MG) XIV, increased rating for PTSD, and increased rating for residuals of gunshot wound of the left calf with injury to MG XI.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion and development of VA records.

The Board has decided that the case should be returned to the RO for additional development due to a lack of service treatment records and in-service noise exposure information.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, but the claims for a left ankle condition and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining private treatment records and arranging for an examination to reconcile the findings.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of a left leg injury remains pending as it requires further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year after discharge, and there was no continuity of symptomatology. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of April 2, 1997 for the grant of service connection for hearing loss. The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA opinion regarding the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as to consider all evidence of record. The Veteran served in the Navy from 1957 to 1960.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed residuals of a head injury, specifically right eye vision loss, and bilateral hearing loss are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a link between the current disability and in-service noise exposure.