Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance was determined to be due to a nonservice-connected neurocognitive disorder, not his service-connected PTSD with depression. Therefore, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for right shoulder disability, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar strain, left knee strain, right knee scars, bilateral hearing loss, and adjustment disorder with anxiety. The VA treatment records from December 2014 to the present are requested.

The Board has determined that the award of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and thus severed. The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (zero percent) since March 31, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current level of disability.

The Veteran was granted service connection for recurrent tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings for various conditions, including left-hand disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, erectile dysfunction, scar on the back, and status post fracture of the right fifth metacarpal. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for a skin disorder, including porphyria cutanea tarda, due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence addressing whether his current disabilities are related to his military service. Additional medical opinions and examinations are needed.

The appeal for service connection of a left elbow condition is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, but the other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 26, 2010 for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence showing he was unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities during the relevant period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, hypertension, COPD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction) precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the period from January 12, 2007 through July 22, 2009. As a result, he was granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied multiple times. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, including missing service personnel records and a VA examination report from August 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease (CAD), and chronic bronchitis. The case is being remanded to obtain updated pulmonary function test results from Dr. Caparro.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia, an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal concerning bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing it. Other issues are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of current disabilities related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of bilateral hearing loss and a request for a Board hearing. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable due to the severity of his hearing impairment, which corresponds to Level I in both ears. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the objective audiometric data and VA's established rating criteria.