Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is considered to have been incurred during his active service due to noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chemical burn residuals, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as new and material evidence was not received. The low back disability, neck disability, arthritis of the legs, right hand arthritis, elbow disability, high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, stomach problems, and sinus problems were denied due to lack of in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Veteran's application for a TDIU indicates that he became unable to work as of April 15, 2009 due to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board finds that this matter should be referred to the Director of the Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss disability has not rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the increased rating claim for bilateral otitis media and complications arising therefrom, as well as a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is denied due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C are not related to his service or a service-connected disability, leading to denial of both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and considering the Veteran's claims in light of his claimed sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the majority of issues related to his bilateral hearing loss, rhinitis, right knee disability, back disability, and left knee disability. The case is being remanded due to new evidence received since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain audiometric test results from a VA healthcare system.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss has not approximated the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss to a noncompensable rating was proper based on improvement in his hearing condition.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for TMJ, prostatitis, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a left elbow disability, GERD, migraines (to include as secondary to obstructive sleep apnea), right ear hearing loss, and hypertension during his October 2016 Board hearing.

The Board has determined that service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is not warranted as the Veteran does not have a current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation at all times during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not manifested to a degree greater than 40 percent disabling at any point on appeal. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the reduction from a 30 percent rating to a 0 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss was proper, as there was improvement in the Veteran's hearing acuity. The initial 30 percent rating has been maintained.