Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right wrist disability and remanded the remaining issues. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service, and continuity of symptoms could not be established. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain unresolved.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for rheumatoid arthritis of the knees, heart disease, nephropathy (claimed as bilateral kidneys), and neuropathy of upper and lower extremities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected PTSD, which alone renders him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has determined that these conditions are related to his noise exposure during active duty service, and thus grants service connection for both disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, and the case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss needs to be re-evaluated due to the inconsistency in speech recognition ability results. The RO must obtain new VA examination records and schedule a new one for an appropriate clinician to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss, including obtaining a modified performance intensity function if necessary.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The initial disability rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent prior to January 19, 2017, and increases to 70 percent from that date forward.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left ear hearing loss, a respiratory condition (including bronchitis), sarcoidosis, and heart disease (including systolic murmur, grade 1 over aortic valve) due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are granted as service connected. The issue of aggravation of pre-existing right ear hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.,The Veteran’s claims for TBI, left thumb, ring, and little finger disabilities, lumbosacral spine disability, migraines associated with TBI, residual scars from TBI, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and service connection for residuals of left ulnar nerve transposition in the left arm are remanded.

The appeals regarding the rating reduction for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a higher disability rating are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection: lumbar strain and sprain, right ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, and sciatica of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was previously granted in a January 2018 rating decision.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's condition did not warrant a compensable rating prior to September 5, 2017 and only warranted a 10 percent rating thereafter.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, low back injury residuals, bilateral hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations.

The Board has denied the claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss since March 15, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current hearing disability. Service connection was denied for type II diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence linking it to military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and PTSD are related to her military service.