Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has restored a 50% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective September 1, 2009. The evidence does not make it reasonably certain that the improvement in hearing would be maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board found no evidence of a current right ear hearing disability for VA purposes and the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service. As such, the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease and reopened the claim for OSA secondary to PTSD. The Veteran was exposed to burn pits in Balad, Iraq during his military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the September 2004 final decision is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service treatment records and VA medical records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for an examination by a specialist to determine if his hearing loss can be attributed to his active duty or reserve service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess her ability to work given her service-connected PTSD and other disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the RO, and no new evidence has been submitted to reopen his service connection claim.

The Veteran has right ear hearing loss that is etiologically related to his active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, and left hip disorder were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found not to be incurred in service or due to any incident of service, and therefore denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty. Therefore, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a comprehensive VA examination and consideration of the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating during the period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, citing a December 2010 VA examination report. The Court found it unclear whether the Board considered the functional effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities without taking into account his age and nonservice-connected disabilities. The case is REMANDED to request an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to have started during service and has persisted since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right shoulder, left ankle, right ankle, hypertension, bilateral foot plantar fasciitis with left first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder all had their respective initial rating evaluations determined to be inadequate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to noise. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's skin disorder claim was reopened, and he is now entitled to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The decision on the skin disorder claim remains pending.