Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for prostate cancer. The decision on prostate cancer is pending further development.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision also noted that the Veteran's left knee disability was granted with a higher rating.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is attributable to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for generalized arthritis and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosed disability, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination to assess his back disability and scheduling of a DRO hearing. The remaining issues are still pending.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, right shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and low back disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and shortness of breath were also denied.

The Board has determined that the issue of TDIU is moot for the period beginning February 16, 2016. The case is remanded to obtain an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 16, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by his service, specifically his work with gas turbine generators. The Veteran will need a new VA examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The reduction of the rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to noncompensable, effective November 1, 2012, was proper. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for her hearing loss prior to June 1, 2015, is denied. A 10 percent rating is granted for bilateral hearing loss from June 1, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating, but his representative argues that they have worsened since he was last examined by VA. The Board finds that contemporaneous examinations are necessary to assess the current severity of his disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been dismissed. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for mood disorder is denied, but a TDIU is granted.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, diabetes mellitus type II, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The effective dates for these determinations were set at January 26, 2012, May 14, 2012, respectively.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, including his adjustment disorder and various musculoskeletal issues, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His combined rating is at the maximum level.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue regarding increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, specifically before May 4, 2015 and after that date. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's application for a TDIU was denied because he does not have any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for left hand, right hand, low back, left leg, right leg, bilateral hearing loss, COPD, sleep apnea, residuals of head trauma, and headache disorder as well as the psychiatric disorders. The VA will obtain all outstanding VA treatment records and provide a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded the issue of evaluating the Veteran's left fibula simple fracture.