Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has vacated its May 7, 2018 decision and remanded the case for further action on the issues of entitlement to a higher initial rating for service-connected hearing loss on an extraschedular basis and entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to March 22, 2018.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus secondary to his service-connected right ear hearing loss. The decision is based on evidence showing noise exposure during active service, which supports a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a retrospective VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss from August 19, 2003 to April 2, 2005, and a TDIU opinion considering his combined effects of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, with no worse than Level II hearing impairment in the right ear and Level I hearing impairment in the left ear.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an increased disability rating for prostate cancer have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for kidney/renal cancer, metastatic brain cancer, metastatic cancer of the spine, and hypertension (HTN).

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including a nervous condition, depression, and anxiety), finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is not compensable, and his claim for service connection of CLL was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his in-service exposure.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10% prior to February 19, 2014, and now at 30%. The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as only a single 10 percent rating can be assigned for recurrent tinnitus.,The claims for left hip disability, right hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and abnormal involuntary movements are all remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied due to lack of evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the absence of any compensable degree of degenerative disc disease within one year of service separation.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no in-service incident and no evidence of chronicity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reviewed again with additional evidence and a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the weight of evidence showing no worse than Level VI hearing acuity in the left ear and Level I hearing acuity in the right ear. The Board finds that a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD was denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions, and the stressor claimed by the Veteran could not be verified.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims should be remanded for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure and ear infections.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but granted service connection for right knee degenerative changes.,The Veteran's genitourinary disability (orchialgia and varicocele) is pending due to a remand.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for hearing loss of the right ear is granted. The case is remanded for a new VA examination to determine if his hearing loss in the right ear had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service, including in-service noise exposure.