Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and tinnitus due to new evidence requiring a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss after June 1, 2010 was denied as his disability continued to warrant a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives, specifically failing to schedule a VA ear, nose and throat examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as nightmares and sleeplessness) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are reopened, and the Board finds that the criteria for service connection for both conditions are met.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is more likely than not associated with his military service due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to acoustic trauma sustained during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his right knee disabilities and bilateral hearing loss disability are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and that any left ear hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria, and the Board found that his lay reports regarding the onset and etiology of his claimed hearing loss are outweighed by the more probative objective medical evidence.

Service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is denied.,Initial increased ratings for a left ankle disability and spine disability are dismissed.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than July 16, 2015, for the grant of entitlement to a TDIU is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than July 16, 2015, for the grant of DEA benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and an examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his requests for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,There is no evidence of a current right or left ankle disability. The Veteran’s service treatment records do not show any ankle injuries.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is remanded for further development regarding his claims for an initial compensable rating for benign essential tremors and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he passed away during the pendency of his hearing loss claim, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of a deceased person's case.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations, additional service treatment records, and updated outpatient treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of relevant VA treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain any private medical records related to his conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for TDIU was also denied.