Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were withdrawn. The claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a back disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was denied as the evidence did not show that he was unemployable prior to June 7, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, as there is at least equipoise evidence supporting this conclusion. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding no in-service injury or disease linked to the current conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left wrist carpal tunnel syndromes, as well as bilateral hearing loss, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss disability, cervical spondylosis, tinnitus, tinea versicolor, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, right hip iliotibial band syndrome with limited flexion, right hip iliotibial band syndrome with limited extension, right hip iliotibial band syndrome with impairment of the thigh, right knee strain, left knee strain, thoracolumbar strain, right shoulder scars, status-post surgery, left ingrown toenails, and migraine headaches have all been denied.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus claim has also been denied for periods when a 100% rating was granted due to surgical convalescence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral vestibular disorder were denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are set at the date of receipt of the claims or the date entitlement arose.

Service connection for PTSD with MDD is granted, effective May 21, 2015. Service connection for other conditions remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete records and unclear VA examination opinions. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for further development. The hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, while tinnitus and insomnia have been assigned appropriate initial ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for frozen feet, increased rating for sinusitis, and earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for service connection of frozen feet was reopened but not granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disability (to include bipolar disorder and schizophrenia), and PTSD. The appeals for service connection for gout, myositis, various musculoskeletal disabilities, sleep apnea, heart disease, ED, neuropathies, and depression are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, neck disability, low back pain, bilateral knee disabilities, cephalgia, hand tremors, restless leg syndrome, and respiratory insufficiency are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for acquired psychological disability is also being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Board finds that his hearing was normal at separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of corroborated in-service stressor. The hearing loss disability received a 20 percent rating from December 20, 2011 to July 23, 2017 and a 10 percent rating since July 24, 2017.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to new evidence received after May 2018. The SSOC will address these matters.