Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss has not been rated compensably since February 4, 2014. The Board finds that additional development is necessary to determine if a higher rating is warranted due to worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and tinnitus, are severe enough to prevent him from securing or maintaining employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for back injury, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus.,The Board also denied service connection for a dental disorder for compensation purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted his claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the Veteran had noise exposure in service, which led to current diagnoses of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his service, but further development is needed for the hearing loss issue.

The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU from December 4, 2018 due to the appellant's service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The claim for extraschedular TDIU prior to December 4, 2018 is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service, but further development is needed for his bilateral hearing loss claim.

The appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, chronic left sternoclavicular joint disorder, left foot disorder, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed.,The appeal for PTSD has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to March 9, 2017 and as 30 percent from March 9, 2017 to September 10, 2017. The claim for a compensable rating after September 11, 2017 is denied.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) has been remanded and will be evaluated based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea as the evidence did not show a link to active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, with no more than Level IV hearing impairment in the right ear and Level II hearing impairment in the left ear. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence as to whether these conditions began during active military service. The decision also grants service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's alcohol use disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. Right ear hearing loss is denied due to lack of current disability meeting VA criteria. The Veteran's increased rating for PTSD and claim for drug dependence as secondary to PTSD are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for bilateral hearing loss, squamous cell carcinoma, intracranial subdural hematoma, peripheral neuropathy, thyroid disability, and heart disability. The remand is due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, right ear and left ear are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is denied as the weight of the evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not exhibit these conditions in service or within one year after discharge. The evidence showed no in-service noise exposure leading to current hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing was normal at the time of discharge from active service and did not meet VA standards for a disability. The Board concluded there is no evidence of chronic hearing loss in either ear during or after service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine the nature and likely cause of his left knee patella alta, gastrointestinal disability, hemorrhoids, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not occur in service and is not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.