Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination for left ear hearing loss. A new examination is required to determine if the Veteran's current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 50 percent from July 11, 2016 onwards. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show that his hearing worsened to warrant such a rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss was granted. The Board found new and material evidence supporting these claims, including the Veteran's in-service exposure to noise during his service as an ammo handler. Service connection for tinnitus is granted. However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending due to insufficient evidence linking current hearing loss to service. The claim for PTSD and depression was denied due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service and has been granted as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current hearing loss disability is related to his in-service hearing loss, but concludes that the preponderance of the evidence weighs in favor of a finding that the Veteran has a current hearing loss disability, was exposed to noise during service, and his tinnitus is associated with his hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further examination to determine if his conditions may be related to Meniere’s disease, which is a possible consequence of military noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for nodules on the lungs, PTSD, and hearing loss due to lack of current disability.,There is no evidence showing a current disability of nodules on the lungs. The Veteran's lungs have been noted as clear or with mild obstruction at most.

The Veteran's claims for right wrist disability, left wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic liver condition related to Gulf War service are denied.,Service connection is denied for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations related to his service connection claims.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU due to lack of evidence showing a worsening in the year prior to the claim and no indication that the Veteran filed any claims before January 7, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded by the Board.,His current service-connected conditions include right ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded a temporary total disability rating based on hospitalization for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issue of the Veteran's entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 5, 2016 due to insufficient evidence. The matter is now referred to the Director of Compensation for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's back disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea. The decision found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of regular aid and attendance or permanent household status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right and left wrist conditions, bilateral foot conditions, and back disability due to a lack of current disabilities as defined by VA regulations. The claim was not remanded or reopened.

The Board has found the May 2016 VA examination inadequate for rating purposes and remanded to obtain a new examination. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as not related to service, but his bilateral knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.