Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss and finds that it was incurred during his honorable period of active duty service. The evidence shows a significant worsening of his right ear hearing loss during this time, although the exact cause is unclear.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psuedophakia status post cataract surgery (left eye condition) was reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence presented a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss and back disorder as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board). The evidence shows that his hearing impairment does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for service connection of PTSD with depression. Other claims were not resolved in his favor.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are severe enough to warrant Category I status for self-employment, but the evidence does not show that all traditional employment goals other than self-employment are unsuitable due to his disabilities. Therefore, the appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including MDD, PTSD, and anxiety disorder), sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, colon polyps, bilateral hand disorder (thumb arthritis), CTS of the upper extremities, and right ear hearing loss are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and his TDIU claim has been denied as he does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that referral to extraschedular consideration is unwarranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address the Veteran's symptoms of nausea, headaches, and ear pain in relation to her service-connected left ear hearing loss and peripheral vestibular disorder.

TDIU granted for the period prior to June 15, 2009.,TDIU granted for the period starting October 1, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to September 25, 2012 prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating prior to April 30, 2013, and to a disability rating greater than 10 percent from April 30, 2013, on an extraschedular basis for bilateral hearing loss. The other issues were not addressed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, a spine disability, and a psychiatric disability. The rating for hyperparathyroidism was not assigned as the Veteran's condition had been cured.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of response from the audiologist regarding a private medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a left hand rash, and right hand arthritis. The evidence does not indicate the existence of current disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his claims of service connection for rhinitis and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood with alcohol use, as well as his claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, but his claimed right leg or hip disorder and right ankle disorder are not service-connected.