Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), a neck condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right arm condition, hypertension, low back condition, and bilateral foot condition are remanded.,The Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal of the increased rating for tinnitus. The claim is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no current disability and thus no valid claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA standards.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The cases for bilateral hearing loss and prostate cancer have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar degenerative spondylosis and right and left knee patellar-femoral degenerative changes, cause severe impairment such that he is unable to ambulate without an assistive device such as a wheelchair. The Board finds eligibility for specially adapted housing due to loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are currently service-connected.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 22, 2016 for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss. However, it denied entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be caused by exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty service, and he has continuously experienced symptoms of hearing loss since service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and has granted service connection for this condition. The right ear hearing loss claim was remanded due to conflicting evidence, and a new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran currently has hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as non-compensable since November 20, 2013. The VA audiological examinations conducted in April 2014 and March 2017 showed that the Veteran had Level I hearing impairment in both ears, resulting in a 0% rating. The Board found no evidence of exceptional hearing loss or other factors warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss with eardrum perforation was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and have continued since.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding aggravation of his right ear hearing loss. The claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as there was no increase in disability during service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 29, 2015 was denied due to lack of supporting medical evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss as of October 29, 2015 was also denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the lack of a recent VA audiological examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are related to service. The VA will obtain any missing audiometric records, schedule a new examination, and provide an opinion on whether the disabilities are related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for service connection of erectile dysfunction was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability due to missing medical records and incomplete examination opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and a TDIU rating prior to September 17, 2010 are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his increased hearing loss rating is denied as the evidence does not show he met the criteria for a compensable disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6100 prior to May 27, 2010.