Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 0% prior to October 7, 2013 and at 10% thereafter. The Veteran is also entitled to a 10% rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 for his service-connected disabilities that interfere with normal employability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a disease or injury in service that caused current hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board found no evidence of exceptional or unusual features.,For diabetes mellitus type II, the Veteran was not entitled to a higher rating based on his current symptoms. The VA examiner did not find that regulation of activities was necessary for managing the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board denied the claim for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment history and work capacity. The Veteran is seeking a TDIU on an extraschedular basis, but additional development is needed to determine if his service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The case is being remanded due to non-compliance with previous Board directives and the need for new examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, and nephropathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to in-service events.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an ear disorder, including hearing loss and otitis media, as well as migraine headaches. The case will be returned to VA for further examination and medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The initial compensable rating for tinea pedis and tinea unguium is denied, with the condition affecting less than 5% of his body requiring only topical therapy. TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss are granted service connection. The Veteran is awarded an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD effective February 9, 2017. Service connection for pes planus is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during active duty. However, the claim for lichen planus was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his current audiometric results do not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral eye disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis related to either eye and no evidence of an in-service event or injury. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosed disability of either eye.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is denied as there is no evidence of limitation of motion, muscle spasm, or abnormal gait/seated posture resulting from this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.