Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with panic attacks and major depressive disorder is denied. The Board found that any attempt to raise this issue now would be a freestanding claim for an effective date, which is not allowed under law.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, pterygium, and headaches prior to July 12, 2016 were denied. The claim for a compensable rating for pterygium was also denied. However, the Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for his headaches as of July 12, 2016, but not more than that. His major depressive disorder claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with major depression prior to July 5, 2018 is also denied. A 100 percent rating is granted from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of current right ear hearing loss disability. The claim for left ear hearing loss was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to military noise exposure and that any such disability did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims were previously denied but reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, feet disorder, sleep apnea, and vestibular disorder have been denied.,An effective date prior to January 4, 2016, for the award of service connection for these conditions has also been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral eye disability due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's tinnitus and service, as well as his hearing loss. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for its decision, including as to the probative value of a March 2008 VA examination opinion. The Veteran's hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The Board found that the additional evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for left elbow disorder was granted, with the claim being reopened but not decided on the merits due to lack of competent medical opinion linking the condition to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for vestibular disorder and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting VA disability criteria. The case is remanded for further examination.

Service connection granted for tinea corporis and keratosis affecting the face and groin.,Hyperlipidemia is not a compensable disability.,Effective date denied for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus prior to January 5, 2007.,Revision of June 2008 rating decision on basis of CUE denied as it did not become final.,Initial ratings granted for right ankle and right foot disabilities.,Service connection denied for hyperlipidemia.,Chronic fatigue (CFS) service connection denied but related to Epstein-Barr virus.,Other skin conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory, and cardiovascular disorders service connection issues remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and the residuals of a stroke. The claims for lumbar spine disability, neck disability, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied entitlement to an extraschedular disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 7, 2014, and denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 1, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for initial rating higher than 10 percent for right knee disability, service connection for left ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to his service, including noise exposure during active duty. The VA examiner concluded that it is less likely than not that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, eye disorder, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease are all denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or service connection.,Service connection for cerebrovascular accident was also denied.