Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for back disorder and right ear hearing loss, as well as the initial rating claim for left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran is also requested to provide records from John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, but has remanded his claims for right shoulder, left knee, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as non-compensably disabling throughout the appeal period, with a final determination of denial for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bladder and prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's SMC claim for loss of use of a creative organ is granted. The Board has taken jurisdiction over the hearing loss issue due to its discussion during the February 2018 hearing. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities secondary to diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that there is not enough evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss and also denied his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the hearing loss, as it was rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines. For TDIU, the Board determined that the appellant's combined disability ratings were sufficient to meet the criteria but concluded he could still maintain substantially gainful employment due to his work history and current physical condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the issues regarding left and right ankle disabilities and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected, with no effective date provided.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The appeal for residuals of a bilateral eye infection is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his service in the Air Force National Guard, specifically while working on the flight line. As such, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. A new opinion is needed from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with the decision favoring the Veteran due to reasonable doubt.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period due to consistently poor hearing acuity, with no worse than Level I in both ears. The Board denied a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. The Veteran contends that he experienced significant threshold shifts in his hearing during service, which were not recorded on his separation audiogram.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his requests for increased disability ratings in the aforementioned conditions.

The Board has decided that an additional VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's current hearing loss, as his last evaluation was in July 2012. The claim for service connection will be remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral shoulder disability, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, left ulnar neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The issues are being remanded due to insufficient evidence on file from 1972 until 2001.