Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and the Board finds that referral to the Director, VA Compensation and Pension Service, is not warranted.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since July 11, 2015. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that the Veteran's current level of hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability, and his in-service hearing was within normal limits. The examiner concluded that any hearing loss is not related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent from November 12, 2009 to September 7, 2016. The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss were both found not to warrant compensable ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and left ear hearing loss were granted service connection, with the bilateral pes planus receiving an initial rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left shoulder disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted a noncompensable initial disability rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as his hearing impairment did not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to September 10, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have any currently diagnosed residuals of gallbladder removal and denied his claim for service connection. The claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and lower extremities were also denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have onset during active service or within one year of service discharge and is not otherwise etiologically related to active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 9, 2009, for the grants of service connection for bilateral tinnitus and left ear hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of record to demonstrate that such claims were received prior to December 9, 2009.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the rating for left ear hearing loss disability from 10 percent to noncompensable, effective June 1, 2010, was proper. The Veteran's hearing impairment is currently no worse than Level VII in his left ear.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss and found that new evidence received since the final March 2005 decision supports this claim. The case is now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, and thus affords him the benefit of the doubt. The Board finds service connection is warranted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for erectile dysfunction and bilateral lower extremity edema. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating for hearing loss or service connection for erectile dysfunction, but noted that there was insufficient information to determine if bilateral lower extremity edema was related to coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition. The VA examination did not provide a clear opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's foot disorder, eye disorder, or hearing disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, psychosis, depression, and schizophrenia) is pending. The Board notes that additional development may be needed to obtain SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a disability as defined by VA regulations, and thus denied his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a vocational rehabilitation examination.