Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as 20 percent disabling since April 4, 2013. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss started in service and has continued since discharge from active duty, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling since April 22, 2016, has rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for lumbosacral spine disability was granted, with the highest possible evaluation of 40 percent assigned. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is pending and not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of a TDIU, but his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for such before March 15, 2009. The case is being referred to VA's Director of Compensation and Pension (C&P) for consideration of entitlement to a TDIU under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, effective March 12, 2015. The claim for an increased rating has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to technical issues with the audio recording of his November 2016 hearing. He will be scheduled for a Travel Board Hearing at his local RO.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to service connection for headaches and bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that the Veteran has tinnitus that had its onset during his period of service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new medical opinion to adjudicate his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case will be returned to the Board if further action is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and therefore service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have had its onset during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing at the earliest available opportunity. The Veteran's request to have the hearing held at the VA Medical Center in Roseburg, Oregon is noted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin disorder. The Veteran's skin condition is found to be at least in equipoise with service connection due to his exposure during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his TBI residuals are rated at 40 percent for headaches. The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on the combined service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for respiratory disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and pharyngitis. The issues on appeal are related to whether these conditions are related to military service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right knee disorder. The initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss was not granted.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss. For left ear hearing loss, the Veteran's disability is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA opinion on service connection and a vocational specialist's opinion regarding TDIU.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was aggravated by or related to noise exposure during his military service. As such, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.