Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable evaluations for right and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as her appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include simple phobia (now consolidated under major depressive disorder with PTSD and insomnia), have been dismissed. The Veteran has also been granted a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for gout, hypertension, left knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The effective date of the grant of service connection for chronic sinusitis is denied as there was no prior claim filed before May 1, 2017.

The Board has reopened the previously denied service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence received since the April 2013 rating decision. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private audiological records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 11, 2017 for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R-2 rate due to insufficient evidence showing a need for higher level care on a daily basis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.,His bilateral hearing loss is also being remanded as the VA examination did not provide a definitive opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the audiometric test results provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's continued medical emergency from August 8, 2016 to August 26, 2016 was of such a nature that he could not have been safely discharged or transferred to a VA or other Federal facility. Therefore, payment or reimbursement for his inpatient rehabilitation treatment at St. Alphonsus is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is dismissed. The AOJ is required to remand the issues of increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, right lateral collateral ligament sprain (right ankle condition), and remote history of right hallux fracture (right great toe).

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, joint arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection is not granted for a low back disability as there is no evidence of such during active service or related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The case of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service exposure. The pulmonary disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and failure to address in-service noise exposure.

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

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient etiology opinions provided by the VA examiner. The Veteran's service records include audiograms, but the examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay statements about noise exposure during service.

Service connection is granted for bilateral pes planus and a left knee disability. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left eye injury residuals are denied.,For the entire period on appeal, a disability rating of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection as they are related to his military noise exposure.,Service connection for hemorrhoids has also been granted, with the condition beginning during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing audiogram test results from April 2012 and December 2015. The Veteran needs to provide these documents for further evaluation.