Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that both conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 11, 2014, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent from March 11, 2014, are denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure and has been granted service connection.,For the left ankle disability, a rating of 30 percent is granted based on marked limitation of motion. A higher rating of 40 percent is not warranted due to lack of ankylosis.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and vertigo due to outstanding VA treatment records not being associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability, peripheral vestibular disorder, and a headache disorder were denied. The claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy was not addressed as it is not related to his service-connected hypertension. His claim for increased rating of hypertension was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.,Service connection for tinnitus is also denied, with the Board finding that any condition began decades after service and not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is etiologically related to in-service exposure to loud noise. Service connection was denied for obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to noise exposure during his active military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 40 percent prior to February 26, 2018. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,The claim for service connection for burns of the head and face is reopened, but further development is needed to determine its merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional information regarding his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development and review of the evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 11, 2010 for the grant of PTSD was denied as there is no evidence that he filed a claim within one year after his separation from service. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date would be February 11, 2010.

The Veteran's hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service and has been granted as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and hand rash have been granted. The claims for residuals of left arm fracture and residuals of left toe fracture remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD is remanded due to the absence of documentation regarding his current symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of hearing loss in the left ear, so the claim is dismissed.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right leg due to a service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left hip disability other than left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied service connection for this condition. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is also denied as there is no evidence showing he meets the criteria for a disability under VA compensation standards.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, status post assault injury right shoulder with residual loss of strength, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for status post injury gastrocsoleus muscle with residual atrophy, left calf. The TDIU claim is also remanded.