Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss increased rating claim is remanded to obtain relevant treatment records and provide a new examination.,The Veteran's right fifth finger disability claim requires clarification due to the lack of an opinion on the etiology of his symptoms.,A VA examination is necessary for the left upper, right upper, and left lower extremities to determine if any current complaints are related to service.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) claim requires a new examination and opinion due to inconsistencies in his reports and lack of support from STRs.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal disability (GERD), lumbar spine disability, and shifted pelvis claims require the retrieval of relevant VA treatment records and clarification on sources of treatment for these disabilities.,,

The appeal to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is due to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for left wrist injury, left knee condition, right knee condition, and hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss are all being reviewed due to new evidence received since their previous decisions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate development, specifically not obtaining the original claims file and not considering the Veteran's lay history regarding onset of symptoms.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable prior to March 5, 2019 and at 30 percent thereafter. The Board has remanded the case for additional development related to a TDIU claim.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be at Level I in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board denied entitlement to a compensable initial disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his active service. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for a fungal infection of the ear.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of April 27, 1993 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. However, he is still denied a compensable disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss.,An earlier effective date of February 13, 1971 for the grant of service connection for hearing loss was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential new evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service occurrence or aggravation of either condition, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The Board has determined that the evidence supports a 20 percent evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (to include as due to herbicide exposure) and service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (to include as due to asbestos and herbicide exposure) are stayed. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after the stay is lifted.,The Veteran has current right and left knee disorders that may be related to his military service, but a VA examination is needed to determine their etiology.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for supraventricular arrhythmias is remanded. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after the stay is lifted.,The Veteran has current right and left knee disorders that may be related to his military service, but a VA examination is needed to determine their etiology.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for supraventricular arrhythmias is remanded. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after the stay is lifted.

Service connection for a left shoulder condition is denied.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran has been in receipt of the maximum rating assignable for limitation of extension (i.e., 10 percent) of the left hip. For the period from December 1, 2018 to February 13, 2019, the evidence shows the Veteran’s left and right hip flexion was limited to, at worst, 30 degrees.,For the period prior to December 1, 2018, and after February 13, 2019, the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent for right hip degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion have not been met. A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's PTSD has more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks; symptoms causing occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, or total social and occupational impairment are not demonstrated. A rating of 30 percent for PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right eye disability and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Prior to January 17, 2017, the rating remained noncompensable. From January 17, 2017, a 20% rating was assigned.