Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease (secondary to right knee), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied an increased rating for sensorineural bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not show improvement warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 19, 2013 and a 20 percent rating thereafter are denied. The Veteran's right knee strain is rated at 10 percent since May 10, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran had current bilateral hearing loss, credible in-service noise exposure, and a link between his service and current disability. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service.

The Board has granted a TDIU, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, and dismissed the issue of SMC at the housebound rate. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for various conditions related to presumed herbicide exposure during service is remanded due to insufficient evidence or further clarification of the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder disorder, myopic astigmatism, an eye disability to include an eye infection, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus due to insufficient evidence regarding the dates of service-connected duty status and the specific incidents that may have caused these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist condition, right wrist condition, bilateral hearing loss, and testicular disability as there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, initial rating for anxiety disorder, and TDIU due to service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to these conditions. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA audiology examination.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385. The claims for initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss, orchialgia, PTSD, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of a compensable rating prior to March 25, 2014 and no rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, but his tinnitus is considered to have begun during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 30 percent for tinea cruris, pedis, and unguium are remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent examination showing Level I hearing impairment in both ears. The Board determined that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection due to PTSD, diabetes mellitus with hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims were reopened on new evidence, but the effective date remains August 29, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the May 2012 VA examination report.