Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues include PTSD, bilateral pes planus, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, TBI, seizure disability secondary to TBI, vertigo secondary to TBI, Dercum’s disease, wrist carpal tunnel syndromes, hypermobility syndrome, testicular/inguinal hernia, respiratory disability, mast cell disorder, hemolytic anemia, and TMJ.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims for service connection, increased ratings, and evaluation of hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, Tinea Pedis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded substantially gainful employment since January 1, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his right wrist disability, chloracne, and psychiatric condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to in-service noise exposure. The right ear hearing loss disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The claim of entitlement to an initial, compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent bilateral tinnitus, and thyroid condition as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's time in service.,There were inconsistencies in the veteran's statements regarding his exposure to acoustic trauma during service and the onset of his symptoms.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected fractures and tinnitus.,Right ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 20 percent for low back disability was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals on March 25, 2015.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection and increased ratings for hypertension, rectal sphincter control, hemorrhoids, left ear hearing loss, low back arthritis, and bilateral ankle arthritis. The claim for a higher rating for depressive disorder was denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The Veteran's claim for PTSD was not granted due to insufficient evidence regarding a confirmed in-service stressor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent rating already accounts for the impact of his tinnitus. The low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition had worsened since his last VA examination in March 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as zero percent disabling throughout the appeal period, based on auditory acuity levels of Level II in each ear. The Board finds that this evaluation is appropriate given the audiometric test results and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 16, 2010 for a TDIU rating, finding that his PTSD did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to this date.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, the relationship between his sleep apnea and service, and the nature and etiology of his PTSD are being remanded due to incomplete evaluations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for chronic allergies, a respiratory disability, and a uterine disability. The remaining issues have been remanded due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease, L5-S1, status post lumbar discectomy due to insufficient evidence regarding etiology.