Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for PTSD due to a withdrawal by the Veteran. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence that the condition manifested within one year after service and it did not meet VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person due to his inability to dress, undress, or bathe himself as a result of his disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and secondary service connection for tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma, while tinnitus is considered a symptom of the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are rated at 40% and 10%, respectively, effective October 30, 2009. The decision also denied any requests for earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, as both auditory assessments showed no more than Level I or V hearing acuity in each ear. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with an average hearing threshold level of 58 decibels in the right ear and 55 decibels in the left ear. The VA examiner determined that this does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right hand scar, and nonspecific skin lesions due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for a right ear hearing loss disability and service connection is granted as it is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's Baker’s cyst, right knee is granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis. His bilateral hearing loss claim is denied. The ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are both granted at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as a matter of law due to finality of previous decisions and prohibition against freestanding earlier effective date claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA opinions, and the need for updated medical records and proper notice under secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral eye disorder and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs to provide medical records, undergo VA examinations, and complete any requested forms.

The Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss needs to be re-evaluated due to insufficient previous examination results and the possibility of worsening.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and his military service. The case is being remanded to obtain new VA examinations to address the etiology of each condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded both the hearing loss and psychiatric disorder claims due to new evidence submitted after the August 2013 rating decision. The Board also ordered additional records to be obtained, including SSA records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The claim for an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee remains denied.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for traumatic osteoarthritis and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any point.