Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The case is remanded for further examination regarding sleep apnea and anxiety disorder.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted at a non-compensable rating prior to March 4, 2019, and a 40 percent rating thereafter. Tinnitus is granted as service-connected. Service connection for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and unspecified mood disorder is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's claims for service connection and payment/reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses are pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and requests for clarification on the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA in the U.S. Naval Reserves.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to noise exposure during service.,Service connection was also established for tinnitus as it manifested within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for hearing loss has been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is etiologically related to his military service or his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus was denied as the earliest claim for service connection was received on April 28, 2015.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, but have been granted based on direct service connection due to their existence at separation from service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and respiratory disorder (asthma) due to new evidence indicating current disability by VA standards.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The matter is now for further review by an otolaryngologist.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 100 percent for major depressive disorder is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The application to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but the effective date prior to January 27, 2015 for increased assignment of 100 percent for major depressive disorder is denied.,The issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for sinus condition with epistaxis remains pending and remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for a right hip disability, gastrointestinal disability (including irritable bowel syndrome), and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Veteran's left eye disability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee surgical scar, left knee surgical scar, thoracic spine disability, and residuals of left total knee replacement are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis has been granted.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded.,Service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been granted service connection, but the current rating is noncompensable. The Board finds that there may be outstanding VA treatment records and requests for these records to be obtained. Additionally, the Veteran asserts an increase in his hearing disability requiring hearing aids, so a VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in locating the Appellant's service records and for further development, including obtaining new VA opinions on the nature and etiology of the Appellant’s bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and his TDIU claim were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating due to his PTSD, as he did not demonstrate total occupational and social impairment. His service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied as the audiometric findings show no more than Level I hearing acuity in the left ear throughout the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing current disability. The claims for higher ratings for knee disabilities and for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded as there is insufficient examination documentation.