Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and headaches have been granted service connection.,His initial rating for chronic thorax myofascial strain, status-post 9th right posterior rib fracture, has been denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service, while prostate cancer and coronary artery disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss but denied for a bilateral knee disability, as the Veteran's knee condition was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The right hand sensory loss and arthritis are not rated higher than the current 30 percent, but the TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's hearing acuity is no worse than Level II in each ear, warranting a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, vertigo, and left ear hearing loss have all been denied.,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Veteran's pterygium was found to be 20 percent disabling as of September 13, 2016. The earlier effective date for the 20 percent rating is granted.

The appellant has withdrawn the appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus dismissing these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not resulted in any new diagnoses or conditions that would warrant increased ratings. The right and left wrist carpal tunnel syndromes are resolved, as is the lumbar spine disability. The cervical spine disability remains not service connected.,No current evidence of radiculopathy or hearing loss has been found.

The Veteran's service-connected genital herpes was granted a disability rating of 60 percent effective February 23, 2010. The other claims were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 10 percent disabling since September 12, 2017. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since April 17, 2013. The evidence does not support a finding of exceptional hearing impairment or entitlement to a higher rating based on service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition. The claim regarding rhinitis and sinusitis remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are causally related to his in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis with mild scoliosis is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The right lower extremity radiculopathy due to this condition is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board finds the VA examiner's opinion significantly probative in concluding that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely than not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his heart disability. Additionally, a VA examination will be conducted to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and is not etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.