Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent and noncompensable, effective from September 27, 2007.,The Veteran’s shell fragment wound of the left leg and knee with moderate instability of the knee, mild internal derangement, and mild muscle injury, muscle group XII, is currently classified as moderate and rated at 10 percent, effective from May 1, 1993. The Board determined that his condition more closely approximates a moderate muscle disability.,The Veteran's hepatitis C is rated at 10 percent, effective from November 20, 2002. The medical evidence shows intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia without weight loss or hepatomegaly.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and remanded the case for further examination regarding tinnitus.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and to provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination regarding his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for tension headaches prior to October 5, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial disability ratings for tinnitus, PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to March 7, 2016, lumbar arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left ear hearing loss has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal for tinnitus. The remaining issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to concerns about the adequacy of previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on an accrued benefits or substitution basis due to a failure of the AOJ to ascertain whether the appellant desires to pursue these claims on either a substitute or accrued benefits basis. The appellant is given another opportunity to provide additional information and/or evidence pertinent to the claims, including notification about missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with the conditions believed to have occurred during his first period of active service.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection claims for various disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim and an earlier effective date claim for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease. The appellant is required to provide updated VA treatment records and identify any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for automobile and adaptive equipment, as well as specially adapted housing or special home adaptation are being remanded due to the need for more recent VA examinations to assess his current disability levels.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and its relationship to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for tinnitus is granted. The issue of service connection for a hematological condition (including anemia, neutropenia, and history of sickle cell trait) has been remanded.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The examiner will assess whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted. The claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The claims for reopening of the hip, low back, and leg disorders were granted but only as to their reopening status.,The neurological disorder affecting bilateral lower extremities and right shoulder disorder are both remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on VA examination results.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, but denied claims for other conditions including cervical spine, hip, and foot disabilities. The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The TDIU claim will also be adjudicated.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back pain and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to his death.