Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, CAD, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of left shoulder condition, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus disorder is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an allergy disorder (to include allergic rhinitis) is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for hearing loss, Parkinson's disease, a psychiatric disorder, a sleeping disorder, and PTSD. The issues are being addressed due to insufficient evidence or need for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, but does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation based on audiometric testing results and speech recognition scores.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, traumatic brain injury residuals, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, a denial of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder prior to August 29, 2016, and the denial of service connection for a respiratory disorder (to include asbestosis).

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is considered incurred due to combat service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, as he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chondromalacia, left knee, and chondromalacia, right knee are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

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 his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DJD and knee conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU based on the combined effects of his disabilities.

The Veteran's hearing loss was previously rated at 10 percent prior to July 19, 2016. The Board has restored the 10 percent rating and granted a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss effective January 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed because the appeal is moot due to his death.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its impact on his employment.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied secondary service connection claims for bilateral hip disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder. The left ear hearing loss rating remains unchanged.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, ankle, and back disabilities as the Veteran did not have any of these conditions during his active duty or at any point during the appeal period.,Service connection was granted for left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis. The Board found that the current diagnoses were related to service due to a significant progression of the left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for low back strain prior to November 27, 2017. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.,There is no medical evidence showing the Veteran has any diagnosed conditions related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic arthritis of the left ankle, right and left knee chondromalacia, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire period from June 2, 2008.