Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his auditory acuity in both ears has been consistently at level I, which corresponds to noncompensable (0%) disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service noise exposure and continuous post-service symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability began in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his requests for an increased rating for PTSD prior to May 3, 2016 and a TDIU prior to that date. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of chronic conditions during or within presumptive periods after service, and the Veteran's reports about when he first noticed hearing loss and tinnitus were not credible.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination to determine if they were incurred in service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU. The issues of ratings for nephrolithiasis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent audiometric testing showing Level II in the right ear and Level IV in the left ear. The Board found that this level of hearing impairment does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability in service or within one year after separation. The Board also found that the post-service diagnosis of hearing loss was inconclusive and did not establish a link to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for sinus disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development of records from a U.S. Air Force Base in Germany.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that he does not have any diagnosed mental health condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 26, 2011, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable at that time. The decision also noted that extraschedular consideration was inappropriate as the Veteran was not unemployable solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted since July 13, 2007 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and right elbow disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not occur during his active duty service and is not related to such service. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.,Service connection for swelling of the left testicle was denied due to lack of documented pathology and continuity of symptomatology.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not granted service connection as they did not manifest within the applicable presumptive period and there is no evidence linking them to in-service noise exposure or other events.,Service connection for eczematous dermatitis was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis related to service, including fuel exposure during service.,Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted a 20% rating as it meets the criteria under Diagnostic Code 5242.,Increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was not granted as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, esophageal cancer, and a respiratory disorder (emphysema) has been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses or chronic symptoms related to these conditions that would warrant service connection.,Esophagal cancer was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for chronic renal disease and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for chronic renal disease, as it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent. For TDIU, the Board determined that the Veteran does not meet the requirements to be considered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.