Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to incomplete medical opinions, inconsistencies in the evidence, and other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability and has determined that it is at least as likely as not related to active duty service.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal of his claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, resulting in their dismissal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was reopened due to the submission of relevant service treatment records. The evidence does not support a current disability of right ear hearing loss, and thus the claim is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service, as his hearing was normal at the time of separation and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms. The VA examiner found that the current hearing loss is not related to military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, skin disability (rash on lower extremities), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, further development is needed as VA examinations are required to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board is unable to determine if service connection has ever been granted for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, and thus remands the case.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are the result of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease alone renders him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and he is also eligible for special monthly compensation based on housebound status due to multiple service-connected disabilities. However, he does not meet the criteria for regular aid and attendance benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete audiometric testing records and the need for a new VA audiology examination.

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

The Veteran's claim for reopening the tinnitus claim and service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that there is at least equipoise evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a diagnosis of hearing loss within one year after separation from service. The Board also found that the current hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a recognized chronic disease under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a).

The Veteran's appeal of a rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. A TDIU as the result of service-connected disabilities, since January 18, 2011, is granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted a 10 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the left hand, but did not address other issues or conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for consideration by the Director of Compensation Service due to his service-connected disabilities and inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.