Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective October 24, 2008. The rating for bilateral hearing loss was increased to 40 percent from November 12, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss due to inappropriately addressing whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is aggravated by his diabetes mellitus. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, including an extraschedular evaluation. The case is referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of whether an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of back, bilateral knee, hearing loss, and tinnitus disorders have been denied. The effective date for the current rating of 50% for PTSD is April 4, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher, due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and headaches (claimed as migraines).

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and correctly decide the Veteran's claims for service connection, including private treatment records from various doctors and Social Security Administration disability benefits documents.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to new and material evidence. However, further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service head injury.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee, and right ankle disabilities. However, it has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for left shoulder and right elbow disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, which is the maximum allowed under VA guidelines. The decision was based on the most severe audiometric results provided in September 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and musculoskeletal disabilities have all been denied.,Service connection has not been established for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder osteoarthritis was granted, with the effective date being February 27, 2017. The decision also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of a compensable rating for lumbar spine strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and requests for additional service records. The issues of service connection for PTSD and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for service-connected retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee prior to February 8, 2011, and greater than 10 percent thereafter is denied. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU claim is part of an increased disability rating claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's terminal hospital reports and missing February 2017 rating action. The appellant’s claims for service connection are also remanded due to an incomplete list of dates the Veteran served on active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lupus, tuberculosis, bone spurs, optical condition, hernias, sleep issues, and mental conditions have been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and interpretation of private audiogram results.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches were denied in October 1985. He later submitted new evidence to reopen these claims in September 1992 and February 1996, respectively.,An effective date of December 27, 1995 was assigned for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.