Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The claim for PTSD has been reopened, but further evidence is needed to establish its etiology.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a skin disability, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and increased rating for PTSD due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are deemed insufficient to determine if he is unemployable. A new examination and updated VA treatment records are needed to assess the cumulative effect of his conditions on employment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is not related to an in-service injury or disease and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 50% from December 5, 2017. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any portion of the period.

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

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, as it was cumulative and redundant. Additionally, the Veteran's need for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance was also denied due to lack of service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability in accordance with VA standards.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that there is new evidence sufficient to reopen several service connection claims, including for severe headaches, auditory hallucinations, left knee condition, right knee condition, chronic sinusitis, and other conditions. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development of his records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, as well as for a right knee disorder and inguinal hernia. The claims for increased ratings are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence in the record to determine their etiology.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left and right knee osteoarthritis, as well as his right ear hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee lateral instability and a compensable evaluation for isolated systolic hypertension have been remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The right hand disability claim is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee instability, right knee disability, post-traumatic midfoot mass, hearing loss, tinnitus, arrhythmia, hypertension, prostatic hypertrophy, acne rosacea, tension headaches, and tingling and numbness in hands, fingers, toes and forehead. The appeals are being remanded for further development.

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

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a deviated septum, claimed as a disability of the nose, is dismissed. The Board has remanded cases involving low back disability, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), and initial compensable evaluation for bilateral tinea pedis/tinea unguium.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been remanded. His claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have also been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and PTSD, but remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of current severity for PTSD.