Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was reduced from 20 percent to 0 percent, effective November 1, 2015, to August 9, 2017. The appeal for restoration of the 20 percent rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, residuals of hemorrhagic stroke, and vertigo are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of secondary service connection for hypertension due to diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected hearing loss was more severe than reflected by his assigned noncompensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the inextricably intertwined nature of his hearing loss claim and the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the service connection claim for a nervous condition due to new medical evidence, but denied reopening of claims for right shoulder pain and problems, lower back pain and problems, hypertension, left shoulder disability, and stomach disability.,The issues of entitlement to effective dates prior to December 1, 2014 for bilateral hearing loss and scar disabilities are also remanded.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's original claim was denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability, but new and material evidence has been received showing the Veteran now has diagnoses of left and right ear hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for TMJ fracture, including on an extraschedular basis, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) is denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating as the preponderance of the evidence weighs in favor of finding that the Veteran does not have a level 3 or greater impairment in any facet of TBI, and his headaches are not attributable to his TBI.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for an anxiety disorder, effectively dismissing the cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left ear hearing loss is remanded due to the inconsistency and unreliability of responses during the May 2017 VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to noise exposure during service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is found to be related to his active duty service. The claim for hearing loss is remanded as it requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a current VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and to consider whether referral for extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Board has remanded the reopened claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, as well as the claims for bilateral hearing loss and IHD. The Veteran's current conditions are being reviewed to determine if they were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence, but it is remanded as additional development is needed before a decision can be made on the merits.