Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and denied increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The appellant's failure to appear for VA examinations prevented a determination on these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for hypertension. The denial is based on the finding that the Veteran does not have a disability for VA purposes due to his hearing impairment, while the hypertension claim requires further examination.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including DDD of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, dermatitis, squamous cell skin cancer, CTS, upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, TBI, and migraine headaches. The Board found that there was no in-service injury or event supporting the claims for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or causation. The reduction of the disability rating for coronary artery disease from 60 percent to 30 percent is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 0 percent since May 16, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been rated at 10% since January 17, 2012. The Board found that the current ratings are appropriate as there is no evidence of exceptional or unusual circumstances rendering impractical application of the regular schedular standards.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the severity of his hearing loss and psychiatric disabilities, as well as the nature and etiology of his right knee condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, which include degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, tinnitus, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, left sciatic radiculopathy, reactive airway disease, a right knee baker's cyst, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, left inguinal herniorrhaphy, and chronic maxillary sinusitis. The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for eligibility to individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for a low back disorder was denied as there is no medical evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran was found not to have current left ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and his employment as a service technician was considered in determining that he could secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has reopened the service connection claim for the residuals of a bilateral eye surgery due to new medical evidence. The other issues are remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his noise exposure during service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with the worst level of hearing acuity being level II in both ears.

The Veteran's effective date for SMC benefits based on housebound criteria is denied because the earliest possible effective date is May 1, 2014.

The Board has determined that the VA examination reports are missing and needs to be obtained. The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left hand injury, low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of cold injuries to his hands, need to be remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or event, including exposure to noise trauma. The Veteran's claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 7, 2009. The Board granted the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from this date.