Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus began in and has persisted since active service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a confirmed in-service stressor related to his motor vehicle accident and was diagnosed with PTSD. As such, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable due to the average puretone threshold at 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hertz being Level I in the right ear and Level III in the left ear. The VA examiner found no exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.

The Board has determined that a new VA medical opinion is needed to assess whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his service, including due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his DVTs and CVA, necessitate the need for aid and attendance assistance. The Board grants SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability was denied. The Veteran's hearing loss manifested in no greater than Level I hearing loss bilaterally, while his right knee disability had a full range of motion as determined by the VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his service-connected disabilities, specifically his back disability and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as it is cumulative or does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and whether his imbalance disability is related to service or secondary to his hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.,The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case as he is no longer alive.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is at least 70% since August 10, 2012. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from that date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 28, 2016, and thereafter was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board found that the termination of the Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was improper due to lack of clear and convincing evidence of actual employability, and restored the TDIU effective October 1, 2015.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service and denied the claim.