Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder with insomnia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, are of such severity that they prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left wrist disorder, left arm disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are granted as these conditions are found to have originated during active service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 6, 2014, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss disability is granted. The rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains at 40 percent, but a higher rating is granted for left lower extremity neurological impairment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, right foot planter wart, and skin rash. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as there was no diagnosis of hearing loss in the right ear during the appeal period.,Service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, respiratory disorder (rhinitis, asthmatic bronchitis, bronchitis, obstructive sleep apnea), CAD, autoimmune insufficiency with orthostatic hypotension and memory problems, and hyperlipidemia is denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for bilateral knee disorder is denied as the Veteran did not step foot in Vietnam or have other qualifying service. The Board found subjective arthralgia but acknowledged the Veteran's competence to report on his symptoms.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right ankle osteoarthritis and Achilles tendonitis, left ankle osteoarthritis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and denied entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's PTSD, including whether his substance abuse is related to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because he does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for migraines is remanded due to the lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus for further examination and opinion. The Veteran's claims are not currently granted as service connection is denied.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shin splints, bilateral heel spurs, and initial compensable ratings for lumbar spine strain, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claim for tinnitus was granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss and TBI were denied.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated at 0 percent and his bilateral tinnitus is also rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board found that these ratings are appropriate based on the medical evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his exposure to hazardous noise in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable, with no worse than level I hearing acuity in both ears. The Board found that the current noncompensable evaluation is appropriate based on the objective audiometric test results.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete examination records and unresolved issues regarding service connection. The Veteran will be provided another opportunity for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.