Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The Veteran also maintains his TDIU claim, which is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss but cannot make a determination on its merits due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is requested to provide any outstanding VA and private treatment records, and he should be scheduled for an audiometric examination.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of any hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The issues of initial ratings for right hip osteoarthritis, limitation of extension, and limitation of abduction remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current sensorineural hearing loss is caused by in-service noise exposure. The claim of service connection for bladder cancer is remanded due to failure to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Board has ordered additional development for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations to address his cervical spine, right hand, lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) claims. The Veteran will be provided with a comprehensive examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for vestibular dysfunction was denied as his symptoms were already compensated by the assigned schedular ratings.,The Veteran's headaches did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and thus he is still rated at 0 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and a new VA medical opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed the case due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a sleep disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is not attributable to service, service-connected disabilities or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete compliance with previous remands and need for new examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability (cervical strain) and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The sinus disability is still under consideration.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable under the VA rating schedule, and there is no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's lay statements and detailed account of in-service acoustic exposure are sufficient to reopen the previously-denied claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10% prior to July 13, 2015 and increased to 20% from that date. The claims for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral cataracts were denied as there is no evidence of service connection or secondary relationship.

The Board has determined that a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is warranted as of August 10, 2012. A higher rating is not granted due to the lack of evidence showing exceptional hearing impairment.

The Veteran's hearing acuity has not been shown to warrant a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.,Right otitis media was found to be non-suppurative and without polyps, thus no compensable rating is warranted under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was found to be manifested by difficulty following conversations prior to June 30, 2017.,As of June 30, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been shown to be manifested by no worse than right ear Level V auditory acuity and left ear Level IX auditory acuity.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been characterized by no more than pure tone thresholds, in decibels, of 10, 15, 20, 35, and 55 in the right ear and 10, 20, 15, 35, and 55 in the left ear at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz, respectively. The Veteran's speech audiometry revealed speech recognition ability of 88 percent in the right ear and 96 percent in the left ear. As such, the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.