Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new VA examination. The issue of whether the reduction in his hearing loss rating was proper remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence is against a finding of current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in, or caused by, his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is addressed in a separate REMAND portion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable evaluation. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since July 27, 1997. The most recent VA examination in December 2015 showed Level II hearing impairment in the right ear and Level I hearing impairment in the left ear, warranting a 0 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating, and his employment background does not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including updated examinations and opinions regarding his left ear hearing loss, PTSD, and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent from August 24, 2012 to January 26, 2017 and at 40 percent thereafter. The Board denied any higher ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for scar on head, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and chronic fatigue. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 80 percent for the period from July 27, 2012 to October 13, 2014. The Board found that this rating is appropriate based on his audiometric test results.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service or post-service ear infections with related surgery. The case needs further examination and opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision also found that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and new evidence supports reopening of his claim for right wrist fracture. The pre-existing condition was aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, elevated cholesterol levels, memory loss, a back disability, and bilateral hearing loss have not been addressed in the decision.,The Veteran has not been provided with an examination to address his claimed back disability or bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service. The claims for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, secondary to in-service herbicide exposure, are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, the Board found insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's degenerative arthritis lumbar spine to his active duty service.