Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, as his in-service noise exposure likely contributed to his current condition. As such, the claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or TDIU prior to May 27, 2009.

The Veteran's hearing impairment was evaluated and found to warrant a rating of 0 percent prior to January 23, 2012; 10 percent from January 23, 2012 to October 18, 2017; and 20 percent since October 19, 2017.

The Veteran's combined rating was determined to be 90 percent, effective November 14, 2011. The Board found that the current ratings were accurate and an increased rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues of left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, chronic ear infection, allergic rhinitis, and tinnitus is dismissed as these conditions are already in effect due to a September 2017 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus and right ear hearing loss do not render him unemployable, as his disabilities are rated at the minimum levels and do not significantly impact his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, initial PTSD rating prior to February 1, 2016, and TDIU from February 27, 2007 to May 5, 2015. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted but not rated as the Veteran did not provide a valid Social Security Administration (SSA) award number.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated appropriately as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 6100. The evidence does not support an increase in disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 16, 2017, and his claim for service connection for eye disability (including glaucoma) were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hearing loss or establish service connection for the claimed eye disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for service connection purposes related to his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after separation from active duty. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to be unrelated to military service.,For his heart disability claim, the Board found that while the Veteran has a current diagnosis of CAD, he did not have any in-service heart problems for which service connection could be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, tinnitus, and hearing loss, do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to June 3, 2013. The Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities as of that date.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability and finds that it is related to service, granting the Veteran's claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, left wrist DJD, and hepatitis C are related to service. The right shoulder, right knee, left knee, low back, and respiratory disabilities are not shown to be related to service. Bilateral hearing loss is also not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, and upper back disorder. The claim for an initial compensable rating for residual scarring of a left leg laceration is granted.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, allergic rhinitis, and bilateral hearing loss have been rated based on their service-connected nature. The initial compensable ratings for these conditions have been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection. However, there is no evidence showing that his hypertension was caused by or related to his active service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, as there was no significant threshold shift during military service and the examiner determined it was less likely than not caused by noise exposure. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating, as his audiometric test results consistently fall within noncompensable levels.