Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disability, tinnitus, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is found to have been incurred in service due to a pre-existing injury that was aggravated by service. Tinnitus is presumed to be related to noise exposure during service. Hearing loss does not meet the VA criteria for a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification from Dr. Timmons regarding his January 2012 examination findings, and for additional development concerning the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn. The Veteran is entitled to a 60 percent disability rating for proctitis prior to August 15, 2013, and in excess of 60 percent thereafter. He is also entitled to a 40 percent disability rating for residuals of prostate cancer as of January 4, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and will consider this evidence in their next decision.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, with a disability rating of 50% effective from May 12, 2016. Prior to that date, the Veteran was rated at 40%. The decision is based on improved audiometric results.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic arthritis of the left knee and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of July 25, 2016. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to a service-connected disorder. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for an increased rating for tinnitus.,The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss from January 30, 2014 to November 15, 2014 did not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for supplemental opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and TMJ disabilities.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than June 7, 2013 for the grant of a 50 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted as there is no evidence demonstrating an increase in severity within one year prior to the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his hearing loss was denied as his bilateral hearing loss is manifested by noncompensable hearing impairment in both ears throughout the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not caused by or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, pes planus (claimed as feet pain), and left ear hearing loss. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for post-traumatic stress disorder and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is currently rated 70 percent disabling, effective March 8, 2011. His bilateral hearing loss has been rated 70 percent since June 16, 2016.,The Veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board granted service connection for a headache and nausea disorder, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was not aggravated by his military service. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a basis to award higher ratings than those currently assigned.

From October 25, 2011 to March 21, 2017, the Veteran's cold injury residuals of both feet were rated as 10 percent disabling.,Since March 22, 2017, the Veteran's cold injury residuals of both feet have not met the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be at its worst Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear, which corresponds to a noncompensable disability rating. The Board determined that this level of hearing impairment did not warrant a higher rating.