Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left eye disability and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of service treatment records, requiring further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and records due to incomplete information.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for hearing loss in his right ear, but denied for hearing loss in his left ear. The initial rating for tinnitus remains at 10 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for heart disability and hypertension due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions began during service and have continued since then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a TDIU from December 14, 2010 through September 9, 2013 due to deficiencies in the June 2017 VA examination and the need for an expert opinion on whether his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable due to the findings not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not start during service and is not related to in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss since October 18, 2010. The Veteran's current conditions are characterized as a level VI hearing loss prior to October 18, 2010, and a level II hearing loss thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

Service connection for right ear hearing loss, back disorder, left knee disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with an initial disability rating of 10 percent from March 25, 2014 to August 13, 2015. The rating was then reduced to zero percent from January 28, 2016 until August 9, 2016, and is currently at a noncompensable (zero percent) rating since August 9, 2016.

The Veteran's hearing loss, sinus disability, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and disabilities of the veins in each leg are not service-connected as they did not arise during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).,Hemorrhoids were also not service-connected as there is no evidence that they arose during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his prostate cancer residuals from December 1, 2015 was granted to a maximum of 60 percent. The other issues were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied reopening of entitlement to service connection for left and right foot bunions, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims for these conditions are all remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, a cardiac disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for bilateral wrist arthritis. The claims for reopening of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and respiratory condition, as well as service connection for joint pain in left arm, joint pain in right arm, skin symptoms, and headaches are remanded.