Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and to consider a conversion of audiogram metrics from one standard to another.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, and a 10 percent rating for COPD with Interstitial Lung Disease is granted effective from April 6, 2018.,Increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be at level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss disability did not begin during service and is not related to military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, but has granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and a bilateral knee disability (chondromalacia patellae) as secondary to the service-connected bilateral pes planus. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's low back disorder.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those related to the Veteran's eye condition, hearing loss, tinnitus, blood in lungs and mouth (secondary to hypertension), heart condition, hypertension, nervous condition, and back disability. The appeals are being remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for status post cataract surgery, tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD with depression due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain VA examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin condition. The examinations will address whether these conditions are related to service or any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his combined evaluation is at least as likely as not that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.,Service connection was not granted because there is no credible medical evidence linking any of these disabilities to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The preponderance of evidence indicated that his hearing loss was more likely due to post-service noise exposure and lack of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including the total knee arthroplasty with residual pain and weakness, is granted as service-connected. The issues of arthritis in all joints (excluding left shoulder and right knee), low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and PTSD due to potential inadequacies in the VA medical opinions provided. The Veteran is also requested to undergo a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, bilateral tibial axonal neuropathy of the lower extremities, gall bladder removal and abdominal scar, Barrett’s disease, and left ear hearing loss are denied. The AOJ is instructed to obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable rating is denied.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was evaluated at 30 percent prior to July 31, 2015, and no higher. The increased rating claim from that date forward is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus, lumbar degenerative disc disease, tinnitus, and right-ear hearing loss was received on November 28, 2014. The Board denied the request for an earlier effective date.