Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The issues are intertwined as a decision on one could impact another.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent since November 21, 2016. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a right foot disability (claimed as a broken right foot) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have an audiological disorder, to include bilateral hearing loss, related to his service. The claim for hyperlipidemia was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed disability. The Veteran's scar of the right leg currently rated at 10% remains unchanged.

The Veteran's death was caused by his underlying conditions, including hypertension and peripheral vascular disease. The service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for service connection for an acquired psychological condition (including post-traumatic stress disorder) is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand instructions, specifically regarding the March 1978 audiogram results.

The appeal seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. Service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied both claims as there is no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss or tinnitus and military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at a noncompensable level, as the most severe impairment found was Level I in both ears. The Board denied an increase in his disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with his claims for workers' compensation and must be remanded to obtain relevant records. Additionally, he needs medical examinations or opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability, left hip and shoulder disabilities, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not attributable to service or shown to a compensable degree within the initial post separation year.

The Veteran's mitral valve prolapse with palpitations has been granted an initial 10 percent rating. The issues of service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD due to military sexual trauma have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is being remanded. The Board will request the Veteran to provide information regarding his employment history and determine if he meets the schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's hypertension claim, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents and secondary to PTSD, is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's low back disorder is related to service and granted.,Bilateral hearing loss was not found during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA audiological examination.

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.