Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted effective April 17, 2014. The current disability picture warrants a 10% rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's recent move and outstanding VA medical records. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining any relevant treatment notes.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warranted a noncompensable rating since February 15, 2012. The appeal was denied as there is not an approximate balance of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his currently diagnosed left ear hearing loss was not present during active service, did not manifest within one year of discharge from service, and did not develop as a result of any incident during service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining pertinent medical records and addressing the issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The VA determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants an initial rating of 70 percent from November 20, 2007 through August 13, 2008 due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was increased to a 20% rating effective October 30, 2015. Service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure was granted.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability and the Board finds that service connection is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of a higher schedular rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine remains pending. TDIU is also under consideration.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the reopening of a claim for osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees and claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, major joints, and lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his left ear and right ear hearing loss resulted in Level I hearing impairment, which corresponds to a noncompensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, with an effective date of July 31, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and granted service connection. However, there is no evidence of aggravation of pes planus by service, and thus service connection for pes planus is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a contemporaneous medical examination showing the current level of disability with the proper amount of detail for rating. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is now being evaluated again.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion are inadequate, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from VA facilities and clarifying the Veteran's treatment history.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for initial compensable ratings for hearing loss and higher initial ratings for right knee disability. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was previously rated at 80 percent prior to November 3, 2014. The Board denied the claim for an increased rating in excess of 80 percent.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee disability, cervical condition with neuropathy, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's previous claims were denied in October 1999, March 2006, and November 2006.,The Board is evaluating whether new evidence has been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.