Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and the retrieval of recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected and his bilateral hearing loss is assigned a 10% rating from April 23, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and remanded it due to need for additional development. The hearing loss claim is also remanded, but PTSD remains unresolved as there was no verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

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

The Board dismissed the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TBI are remanded.

Allergic rhinitis and multiple joint pains (fibromyalgia) are granted. Service connection for lower back disability is reopened, but denied. Service connection for sarcoidosis and gastrointestinal disorder (IBS) as due to Gulf War illness are remanded.,PTSD rating in excess of 30 percent is remanded, as well as ratings for external hemorrhoids and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent from October 18, 2017 and thereafter. The claim for a higher rating prior to November 16, 2016 and from November 16, 2016 to October 17, 2017 remains pending and is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for audiometric test results to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, skin cancer, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity neurological disability, head trauma residuals, vertigo, and vision disabilities. The effective date for PTSD service connection remains under review.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shin disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded to obtain a VA examination.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and headaches have been granted service connection.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has not been established.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's disease, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of recurrent urinary tract infections and thus is not entitled to service connection for this condition.,For the right ear hearing loss, the evidence shows no current disability as defined by VA regulations. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. Further examination and opinion are needed from an appropriate clinician.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are all denied. The current ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left lower extremity cold injury residuals, right lower extremity cold injury residuals, and anxiety disorder NOS are found to be appropriate.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability has been granted an increased rating of 70 percent, but not greater. The issue of a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded and the issue of TDIU prior to August 7, 2017 remains on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with the average pure tone threshold being 65 decibels in the right ear and 56 decibels in the left ear. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal to establish the timeliness of his Substantive Appeal for initial ratings on left elbow and bilateral hearing loss disabilities is granted. The RO found that the appeal was timely filed, considering a due process violation.