Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are adequately addressed by the current schedular criteria and there is no evidence of marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalizations.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities, including PTSD, right hand/wrist disability, lumbar spine condition, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The Board has also determined that verification of the Veteran's in-service stressors is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss or sufficient medical opinion to establish a link between service and either condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA audiology records and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of recent medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide any additional relevant records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and an increased rating is denied.,The effective date for a 80 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss has been changed to January 6, 2014. The earlier claim for this increase in disability is remanded as it cannot be granted prior to the date of treatment on January 6, 2014.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder is being remanded due to a lack of VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's widow is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for loss of balance due to lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal of his initial rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed because he withdrew the appeal in September 2018.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for tinnitus, but has remanded his hearing loss claim due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's employability and functional impairment of his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is still seeking TDIU based on his cardiac disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional audiometric testing and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all appeals.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation has been granted.,The Veteran's claim regarding a proposed reduction of his bilateral hearing loss disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent is remanded. The matter of whether he warrants a higher disability rating since April 2016 will also be addressed.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded and the VA Director of Compensation Service must consider an extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (b).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee, ear hearing loss, tinnitus, cardiac disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and carpal tunnel disabilities may be related to service. However, due to lack of medical evidence on record regarding these claims, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Veteran's vertigo disability is granted with a 30 percent rating. The remaining issues, including low back and left knee disabilities, migraines, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss, are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran was exposed to noise in service which caused these disabilities.,Service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome is also granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The VA has granted service connection for hearing loss but the appellant believes his disability is more severe and requests a new examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of lumbar disc disease, right ear hearing loss, left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and major depression are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete records and procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is reopened due to new evidence showing a link between his service-connected sinusitis and his headaches. The claims for higher ratings for various disabilities, including psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, rhinitis, hemorrhoids, appendectomy residuals, scar of the right middle finger, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU are all remanded for further development.