Hearing loss decisions — 2018

All service connection claims have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The right ankle disability claim is remanded as additional records are needed.

The Board finds the January 2015 VA negative nexus opinion inadequate for purposes of adjudicating this claim and remands the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Obstructive sleep apnea was not found to be related to service-connected asthma, and thus denial of service connection.,Erectile dysfunction was not diagnosed by the VA examiner, and therefore denial of service connection.,Neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities was not diagnosed, and thus denial of service connection.,Left hip disability was not diagnosed, and thus denial of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to March 31, 2013 did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating. The Board found that his employment issues were due to non-service connected conditions and therefore denied the claim.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at 10 percent, as the evidence does not support a higher rating. The issue of CUE in the February 22, 2016 RO rating decision is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include tinnitus, hearing loss, heel pain, ankle pain, knee pain, psychiatric disorders, GERD, stomach condition, headaches, lung condition, sinus condition, and throat condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active military service. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, hammer toe, low back disability, foot and leg disabilities, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred during service and the Board finds that there is no nexus between his current hearing loss disability and in-service acoustic trauma. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable throughout the pendency of his claim due to Level I hearing in both ears, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable (0%) throughout the appeal period, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on VA examination results and medical records.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss as the evidence did not show a link between current hearing loss and military service.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease to include as due to herbicide exposure and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The appeal seeking service connection for a left shoulder disability is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.,The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to her in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and obtaining outstanding records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with auditory acuity levels of II in both ears. The Board found that the evidence does not warrant a compensable rating.