Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating, but no higher, for generalized anxiety disorder. The Veteran's pterygium claim is remanded due to the lack of an SOC. The skin disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus claims are also remanded as they involve incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and an increase in tinnitus have been denied.,The Board has found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his service-connected tinnitus, as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and psoriasis with psoriatic arthritis due to lack of a VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's service connection claim for these conditions is being reviewed again.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral foot pain and denied his claim. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate rationale in the June 2017 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions began during the Veteran's active military service due to exposure to noise hazards.

The Veteran's hearing loss has worsened, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, is granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensably rated.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The effective date of his PTSD service connection is denied as it was not received until July 15, 2010. Other claims have been remanded.

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

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted, and he is now entitled to a rating of 10% for this condition. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as there is no current diagnosis. The Veteran's partial loss of function of the lower extremities is considered in his combined disability rating. Separate service connections for tinnitus, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right foot traumatic degenerative joint disease are all denied. Service connection for a low back disorder, right sciatic radicular pain, peripheral neuropathy, heart disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent since May 23, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability but has remanded the issue of respiratory disability (sinus pharyngitis) due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection as they are related to his military service.,Service connection has not been established for the Veteran's allergy disorder, heart disorder, acquired psychiatric or neurocognitive disorder, sleep disorder, and memory loss disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to independent living services, including purchasing an enclosed tractor, a hay conditioner, and a wheel rake, as these items are necessary for him to achieve maximum independence in daily living.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not caused by or a result of his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD was denied, and the Board has remanded his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.