Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable since March 6, 1997. The VA audiological examinations conducted during the appeal period did not provide valid results due to poor test validity and invalid speech discrimination scores. As a result, no compensable rating can be assigned for this period.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder (claimed as a nervous condition), was reopened due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and squamous cell carcinoma. The decision on tinnitus is based on the Veteran's credible testimony of in-service noise exposure leading to current tinnitus, while the denial of hearing loss and squamous cell carcinoma is due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for patellar tendonitis, right knee with quadriceps insufficiency has also been denied due to the lack of additional functional loss or limitation in motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, brain tumor, seizures, and brain cancer due to a lack of updated medical records. The Veteran is entitled to a compensable disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss, service connection for his brain tumor and associated medications are being reviewed, as well as his seizure disorder and brain cancer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to his failure to report for VA examinations and his testimony that he was homeless during the time examination notices were sent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed before these claims can be decided.

The Board has granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from May 29, 2010. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment since his last day of work in May 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected Meniere’s disease with tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been granted a 100 percent evaluation effective from August 22, 2013.

The Veteran's spine condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

Right foot, left foot, low back, right and left knee conditions have been dismissed.,Bilateral hearing loss has been granted. A rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic prostatitis prior to March 28, 2016 is denied; a 20 percent rating but no higher from that date is granted.

The Veteran's claim of a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to the failure to attend a VA examination. The case is now being returned for another examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military noise exposure. Service connection was denied for a left ankle disability due to lack of evidence showing its onset during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a present disability that meets VA criteria.