Hearing loss decisions — 2018

Your claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and complete a VA Form 21-4142 for names of physicians who treated you.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has determined that he is unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his audiometric test results do not meet the specific pure tone thresholds and/or speech discrimination percentages required for higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for entitlement to increased ratings for a left foot disability, bilateral hearing loss prior to August 4, 2017 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter, and hemorrhoids. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also granted for left hand surface lump, carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands, and primary vitiligo. However, the issues of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome right hand and left hand, and degenerative arthritis left knee remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 15, 2011 for his service connection awards of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues were referred back to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) due to the Veteran raising a claim for increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable prior to September 25, 2006. The bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent prior to September 17, 2015 and 70 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's death prevented the appellant from timely filing a request to substitute as claimant for claims pending at the time of his death, resulting in denial.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the lack of audiogram and private audiological records. The VA will obtain these records and readjudicate the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between current disabilities and in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for low back strain and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a nexus to service.,Service connection was also denied for chronic bronchitis due to herbicide exposure, as there is no evidence of such an illness in the record.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and diabetes mellitus type II, with the latter being presumed due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's statements regarding his proximity to the air base perimeter have been credited over VA's formal finding of insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, substance abuse, and an acquired mental disorder (including depression and/or anxiety) due to insufficient explanation of the VA examiner's opinion regarding a significant threshold shift in the Veteran’s hearing acuity during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for aggravation of his preexisting left ear hearing loss disability, finding no evidence that it was permanently aggravated during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have begun during service and is related to noise exposure. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of major depressive disorder and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service foot pain and hearing impairment need to be considered, as well as his wife's testimony.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.