Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's combined disability rating is at least as high as the threshold for TDIU, and he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board has granted TDIU effective June 15, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination findings. A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and verification of his National Guard service periods.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left hip disability (secondary to service-connected disabilities), lumbar spine strain, and left ankle sprain due to additional development being required.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service. The private medical opinion submitted by the Veteran does not establish a link between his in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the appeal of hearing loss service connection and granted tinnitus service connection. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since December 12, 2011. The Board has determined that the criteria for TDIU are met as of this date.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,For the period prior to November 9, 2016, his sinusitis was not compensably rated. For the period after November 9, 2016, a 30 percent rating is granted for sinusitis.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition and related scar are remanded due to lack of STRs and need for an examination to determine etiology.,The Veteran's back condition is remanded as VA needs to provide an opinion on the likely etiology of his current diagnosed back disability, including consideration of in-service duties.,The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and need for addendum opinions.,The Veteran's flat feet are remanded because a VA examiner has not addressed whether preexisting flat feet were aggravated by service.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is remanded as the threshold for disability was not met in his previous examination. The issues of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are inextricably intertwined.,The Veteran's right hand middle finger laceration residuals are remanded due to potential missing records from hospitalization during service.,The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is remanded as the Veteran asserts an increase in severity since his last VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, right knee osteoarthritis (OA), bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and depression. The Veteran's current disabilities were not shown to have been incurred during or aggravated by active duty service.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2013, for the award of service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional records and testing related to his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of current diagnoses and possible functional impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service due to noise exposure while working on jet aircraft engines.

The appeal is being remanded due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his claim for an initial compensable disability rating for status-post right elbow contusion. The Board also finds that additional VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's claims regarding service connection for right knee condition, lower back condition, right hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and left ear hearing loss do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as they are rated at 10 percent, which is less than the minimum requirement of 60%.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of prurigo nodularis was denied, but he was granted a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back pain, and hypertension. The appeals are being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is associated with his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's hearing impairment is no worse than Level I in either ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating for the initial compensable rating claim.