Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and lack of opinion.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities, with the effective date being throughout the appeal period.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claims of service connection for bilateral cataracts, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (hypogonadism), and skin condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of tinnitus is dismissed. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of his hearing. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss remains at 40 percent and TDIU is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service, specifically noise exposure. The claim will be returned for a new VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear is considered to have started during his military service and has been granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the claims for a full VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected.,Ischemic heart disease and DM II are not granted as service connected, due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as he did not file a timely Substantive Appeal within the required time frame, and thus the case was closed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs a new medical opinion regarding the onset of his tinnitus and a VA examination to assess his current left ear hearing acuity.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinion regarding causation.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable rating is denied.,The effective date of the 10 percent evaluation for right ankle strain is denied. The Board finds that July 11, 2014, was the earliest date on which an increase in disability occurred based on all evidence of record.,The effective date for the assignment of a 20 percent evaluation for right ankle strain is denied. The Board finds no basis upon which to assign an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was denied as he does not have a current disability. The right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome rating was also denied as the evidence did not show any additional functional impairment warranting an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the cases of cervical degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep disability to allow for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new audiological examination.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist and right-hand conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory condition (due to asbestosis exposure), hepatitis C, deep muscle pain, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and found to be at Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board denied the claim for an initial compensable rating.