Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is manifested by no more than a hearing acuity of Level V for the right ear and a Level III for the left ear, resulting in a 10% evaluation. The Board denied an increased rating as his hearing loss does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations. The issues include tinea corporis, diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, liver condition (including cirrhosis), and Barrett's esophagus.

The Board has decided to remand the case for another audiology examination due to unclear communication about the scheduled appointment and because an examination would be helpful in addressing the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for ischemic heart disease due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.,Service connection for xerostomia is granted, with the condition being proximately due to medication used for a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.,An initial rating of 70 percent is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder throughout the period on appeal. The issue of TDIU is also addressed and found to be met.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is considered.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and a non-compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional evidence, including private hearing test records.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to NSAID medication due to noise exposure during service. Additional evidence is needed, including private or VA treatment records and an opinion from a VA audiologist regarding whether the current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are adequately captured by the current schedular criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its current severity.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is considered service-connected as it was incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service connected, as is his diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran also receives a TDIU since November 27, 2013 due to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional records, consideration of extraschedular criteria, and potential referral to VA’s Director of Compensation Service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate reasoning in a previous VA examination. The case is sent back for a new examination and an opinion on whether the hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a current disability. Therefore, service connection is denied.,Service connection for right knee disability and anal fissures cannot be established as they are not related to in-service events or diseases.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions such as plantar fasciitis, wrist pain, bilateral hearing loss, paresthesias of the left fingers, a psychiatric disorder (to include depression), hand pain, and knee pain. The Veteran is not eligible for compensation benefits for any disabilities that began in or are etiologically related to his second period of active service from December 2001 through August 2007.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure is conceded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted service connection, but diabetes mellitus type II, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was established due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus was also granted as it is related to the Veteran's current hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and the decision to reduce the rating for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to new evidence.