Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding a reduction in evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 30 percent to 0 percent, effective April 14, 2015.

The Board has granted a request for a new hearing due to the appellant's inability to attend the originally scheduled videoconference hearing. The case is now remanded for scheduling a new hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for further evaluation and additional VA treatment records to be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined rating of 70% did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensable as it does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than noncompensable.

The Veteran's PTSD and Tension Headaches were granted increased ratings, with a 70% rating for PTSD and a 50% rating for Tension Headaches. The effective date for the tension headaches rating was denied as there is no factual basis to award an earlier effective date. The Veteran also received a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus. Service connection is remanded for osteoarthritis of the feet, hammer toes, and hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of her hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disability. The claims will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and for a new examination. The claims for kidney disorder and low back disorder are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the highest possible rating being Level I in each ear. The Board denied an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by in-service noise exposure. The decision also acknowledges the Veteran's credible statements regarding in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no higher than Level IV in the right ear and Level I in the left ear. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore a 30 percent rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the reduction from 30 percent to 0 percent was proper based on improved audiometric results.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for left foot disability and right foot disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The left ear hearing loss claim is denied.,Service connection for a skin disability, including basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma, is denied.,Service connection for deviated nasal septum is remanded due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion.,Service connection for sleep apnea (secondary to tinnitus) is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.