Hearing loss decisions — 2019

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not manifested to a degree that warrants a compensable rating for any period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea due to new evidence received since the July 2018 Statement of the Case.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The case must be returned for an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements about military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from March 12, 2014 to September 24, 2015 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by Level I hearing acuity in both ears, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (zero percent) since September 2014. The RO denied an increased rating for this condition.,The Veteran's OSA with bronchitis was initially rated at 50 percent effective November 24, 2015. The RO denied a higher rating in excess of 50 percent.,Prior to November 24, 2015, the Veteran's bronchitis was rated as noncompensable (zero percent). The RO denied an increased rating for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected chronic sinusitis. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to May 2, 2019 and over 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The right ear hearing loss claim is granted, but the lower back disability and left ear hearing loss claims are sent back for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran's back disability and right ear hearing loss for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The conditions are related to military service exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination, consideration of an extraschedular evaluation, and obtaining updated VA records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence linking his current hearing loss to military service, including exposure to noise.

The Veteran's claim for an increase in his disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment did not manifest during or within a presumptive period after service and was not related to in-service noise exposure. The evidence showed that his hearing issues were more likely due to non-service-related middle ear pathology.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus require the need for aid and assistance due to his inability to manage daily activities such as medication management and protection from environmental hazards.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and unspecified depressive disorder. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, and the issue is no longer on appeal.