Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to Crohn's disease and an increased rating of 60 percent for Crohn's disease. The Veteran also received a separate compensable rating for his bowel resection scar.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition. The claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, due to exposure to herbicides or as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including obtaining dates of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) with the New Jersey National Guard. The Veteran's representative was also given an opportunity to review the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's level of hearing impairment did not warrant a higher rating based on the VA audiometric evaluations conducted over several years.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric results did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right hip disability, effective from June 15, 2015. The Veteran was previously rated at 10 percent prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, vertigo, psychiatric disorder, alopecia universalis, and otitis externa are not supported by the evidence of record. The claim for service connection for a skin disorder is reopened but denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to military service or any incident thereof. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also denied due to lack of in-service noise exposure and insufficient medical opinion regarding causation. Claims for headaches, vertigo, psychiatric disorder, alopecia universalis, and otitis externa are not addressed as they were not part of the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as he has not provided necessary financial information and his combined disability rating is less than 70%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim remains pending as the VA examiner did not provide a sufficient rationale in their opinion.

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as mild lumbar spondylosis or spondylolisthesis, was not caused or aggravated by any aspect of service.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The case is REMANDED for this purpose.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the severity of his tinnitus and its impact on his ability to function. The case will also be reviewed to determine if referral for extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for his PO exploratory laparotomy scar and GSW of the right flank. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for Crohn's disease with ulcerative colitis is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of onset or continuity of symptoms during service, and the Board found that current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to noncompensable was proper due to clear and unmistakable error in an earlier decision. The Veteran is entitled to a compensable evaluation prior to July 18, 2006, but not after that date.