Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA medical opinion and gathering additional evidence from the Veteran.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal for restoration of a 100 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, including the question of whether the reduction in compensation from 100 percent to 80 percent disabling was proper.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection and rating for his disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right elbow epicondylitis, recurrent muscle strain of the lumbar spine, residuals of a right ankle strain, residuals of a left ankle strain, and residuals of a cervical spine injury.

The Board finds that the preponderance of competent and credible evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has a current right ear disability related to a ruptured right ear drum during his active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss from April 21, 2016 to the present does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Raynaud's syndrome of the hands and feet, as well as his claim for an initial compensable rating for tinea pedis both feet and onychomycosis toenails. The Veteran's conditions are not considered to be related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has reviewed the evidence and determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The previous denials were based on a finding of no current disability, and the provided evidence does not establish a current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there is no evidence of such conditions within one year post-service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from maintaining full-time employment during the entire appeal period.

The Veteran has effectively lost use of his lower extremities due to service-connected Parkinson's disease, and is therefore eligible for specially adapted housing. The claims for service connection for diverticulitis and an earlier effective date for Parkinson's disease have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a disability meeting VA criteria at any time during the period of the claim. Service connection for headaches was granted based on presumed relationship to PTSD.

The Veteran's TDIU and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss have been granted effective from October 23, 2014. The earlier effective date claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating prior to September 19, 2015, and a rating in excess of 50 percent beginning September 19, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and the need for a VA audiological examination.

The Board has determined that there is no current hearing loss disability related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.