Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, while his fractures of the left long and index fingers are each rated at 10 percent.,Service connection for pes planus (fallen arches) is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's post-total right knee replacement is rated at 60 percent, his bilateral hearing loss and right knee surgical scar are not compensable, and he has a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability. The Veteran also received a 20 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus remains remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his employment during the appellate period was not marginal.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss in either ear due to inservice acoustic trauma or medication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset during or immediately after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD (claimed as mental health condition) is denied an effective date prior to December 12, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a separate and compensable evaluation for bilateral cataracts associated with Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve associated with Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve associated with Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity femoral nerve is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for meralgia paresthica of the right thigh is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease bilateral sacroiliac joints with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and back spasms is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a retrospective VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss from October 26, 2001 through December 7, 2014. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that his audiometric testing did not meet the criteria to warrant such a rating at any time during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis have been rated as noncompensable since their service connection was granted in March 2013. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral eye condition, hypertension, and chronic bronchitis.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is denied because it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus cannot establish service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current disability rating of 20% is not supported by the evidence, which shows no compensable level of hearing loss in either ear.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are causally related to service. The Veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss was aggravated by his combat service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to April 9, 2019, for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to TDIU prior to February 5, 2016, were both denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or use of a hand or foot, permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is denied.