Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a reduction in the rating for bilateral hearing loss, which affects the appellant's eligibility for TDIU. The appeal period for this reduction decision must be completed before further action can be taken on the TDIU claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral knee injury and hearing loss disability due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran's current diagnosis does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA compensation purposes, and there is no evidence of chronic symptoms within one year of separation. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have continuous symptoms since service separation.

The VA denied initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 20, 2014, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The VA also denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus to service. New and material evidence has not been received that would raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for tinnitus. The claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability remains denied.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for tinnitus due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection is granted for a cervical spine condition (neck disability) with an effective date of November 30, 2012. Effective dates for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are not established as the Veteran did not file claims for these conditions prior to November 30, 2012.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his current disability levels.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent throughout the appeal period, effective from March 29, 2008. A TDIU was also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in the disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of his hearing loss test results from a previous examination.

The Veteran's depression and bilateral hearing loss have been granted initial ratings of 50 percent each, effective December 16, 2016. The Veteran has also been granted TDIU due to service-connected disabilities since that date.

The claims for bilateral ankle, knee, and hearing loss conditions remain denied. The claim for tinnitus was granted due to new evidence submitted after the January 2015 denial.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it is related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision on tinnitus is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure, while the denial of hearing loss is due to a lack of evidence meeting VA criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.