Hearing loss decisions — 2018

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

The Board has remanded the cases for further evaluation due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and the current severity of his right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing acuity is not shown to be worse than Level I in either ear, warranting a 0 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for clarification on audiometric test results from private providers.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development related to his service-connected ichthyosis. The outcome of this development may affect his increased rating claim.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 11, 2017 was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The cases of PTSD and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence after his last Statements of the Case. The claims for higher initial ratings and increased rating will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ear drum disability and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 16, 2016. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation of 20 percent or greater for bilateral hearing loss beginning April 16, 2016 was granted.,The Board also denied service connection for a right knee disability secondary to injured nerve status post left knee surgery and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the same condition. Both claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right lobectomy for lung cancer, secondary to asbestos exposure, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, secondary to GERD, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergies, due to asbestos exposure, is remand.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various disabilities, including tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, numbness in the right hand, bilateral knee disability, left hip disability, spinal meningitis, and sleep apnea. The effective dates for these issues are not addressed as they are being remanded.

The application to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his combat service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted, as the evidence shows a continuity of symptoms since service. However, his claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is no worse than a level I hearing impairment in each ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus has been granted on the basis of aggravation. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the disability was aggravated by service.,Service connection for DJD of the left hip and right hip has been granted based on the presumption that the disability was aggravated by service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder) has been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered a chronic disease under VA regulations and granted on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the evidence shows that his current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of contemporaneous audiology treatment notes and unclear speech recognition scores from a 2016 VA examination. A new VA examination is needed to evaluate the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.