Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

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

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination and opinion due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for various equipment purchases and home modifications under the independent living plan through VA’s VR&E program is remanded due to incomplete documentation, lack of a Vocational Rehabilitation evaluation, and unavailability of certain records. The AOJ must ensure all relevant documents are obtained and associate them with the claims file.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for right knee injury, and the claim for a compensable rating for scars related to right knee injury was granted.,The Veteran’s right ankle condition may be caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities (right knee and right foot fracture), but this needs further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no current diagnosis of hearing loss and thus no basis to grant service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of hearing loss, skin cancers, an acquired psychiatric disability, and loss of teeth are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The effective date for the grant of service connection for a left knee disorder, PTSD, type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremity, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss is denied.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is also denied.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection, and his PTSD rating remains at 70 percent. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claims of a compensable rating for degenerative arthritis of the left ring finger and service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The SSA records are also requested as they may be relevant.

Your claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as these conditions are now covered by a previous Board decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no probative medical evidence indicating the disability was incurred in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Veteran's abdominal scarring and shin splints were denied service connection. The Veteran's lumbar strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left leg shin splints with moderate knee disability are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as he reported concerns on the day of the November 2016 VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder with major depression prior to April 11, 2016, sleep apnea, GERD, right wrist sprain with avascular necrosis, status post removal of necrotic bone, psoriasis, diabetes, right ankle sprain, right knee disorder, right foot disorder, bilateral leg disorder, chest disorder, residuals of head injury including scar, and vocal chords disorder are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was granted a 50% rating from June 28, 2017 to October 3, 2018. The effective date for this increased rating is set at June 28, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination closer to his residence.