Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, psychiatric disability, and back disability. The Veteran was also denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disability and a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to a lack of VA examination and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and determine if it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia is denied as there is no diagnosis of insomnia due to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claim for initial compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss is denied because the evidence does not show that his hearing impairment meets the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for initial compensable evaluation for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during a qualifying period of service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects his disability level.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, concluding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is more likely due to age-related presbycusis rather than noise exposure during service.

All pending claims for service connection and increased ratings are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA must obtain all relevant treatment records, including those from July 2016 and any other identified VA facilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his headaches due to head injury is denied, and the case is remanded for further action regarding total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated VA treatment records. The issues include service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a heart condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been manifested by a hearing loss pattern with no worse than Level II hearing acuity in his right ear and Level IV hearing acuity in his left ear.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss with eardrum perforation has worsened, and he should be evaluated for the severity of his disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a compensable initial rating for left inguinal herniorrhaphy due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a perforated left ear tympanic membrane with conductive and high frequency hearing loss is denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for any higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a copy of his July 10, 2015 VA audiogram and scheduling him for an updated VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a permanent threshold shift on his separation audiogram and insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish service connection.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to provide VA treatment records from January 25, 2005 to August 4, 2017. The appeal is being remanded due to this missing information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury with residuals, chronic myositis of the para-cervical and para-lumbar spine muscles, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, absence seizures, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's service records need to be verified, including any National Guard or Reserve service, and all updated treatment records should be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral, right and left ear hearing loss has been reopened. Service connection is granted for the right ear hearing loss. The issue of service connection for the left ear hearing loss is remanded.