Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded several issues, including the reopening of a claim for service connection for a neck condition and the increased rating for right shoulder osteoarthritis. Other claims are also being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a back disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted service connection. Right ear hearing loss is denied as there was no diagnosis of hearing loss in the right ear during the appeal period. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted a rating of at least 20 percent from September 28, 2009 to May 23, 2011.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during his active service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are currently rated at the lowest possible levels, with no higher ratings granted. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 2, 2016. Therefore, the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Retirement based on Unemployability (TDIU) prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a disability rating have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for service connection of hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and insufficient medical opinion to establish a link between in-service noise exposure and the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing disability under the VA criteria. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not shown during service or within one year after separation, and his left ear hearing loss did not meet the VA criteria for a disability.,The Veteran's claim for higher rating for service-connected right shoulder disability prior to April 18, 2017 is remanded as there is no evidence of limitation of motion to shoulder level or midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for respiratory condition was not addressed as it is unclear if it was part of the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability related to service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is not due to his military service.

The Veteran's surviving spouse was granted SMC at the (l) level based on his need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, with all reasonable doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded the case to determine if a higher extraschedular rating is warranted due to symptoms not covered by the current rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss. The Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to determine if his preexisting left ear hearing loss underwent an increase in severity during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Meniere’s disease, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to outstanding records and need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the Appellant, and therefore the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss; increased ratings for Parkinson's disease and a low back disability; and TDIU prior to December 10, 2012 have been dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss in December 2016. The Veteran filed a motion to revise this decision, alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE), but the Board found no CUE.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis was also denied as not warranting an initial compensable evaluation.