Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, atrophy of the testicles, or left inguinal nerve injury and residual scar.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss due to potential herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's exposure is being verified by VA, and all relevant VA treatment records are requested.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin cancer due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the VA examiner did not provide an independent assessment of his functional impairments due to service-connected disabilities, including IBS, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's non-compensable service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not considered an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment, and his Roman numeral designation for the right ear is level I hearing and for the left ear is level I hearing. Using these designations and Table VII to obtain a percentage evaluation results in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has worsened, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence that could support these claims.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted with an effective date of June 11, 2011 or the date following his last day of employment. The Board found that he could not secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right ear hearing loss have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The claim for left ear hearing loss is pending, but not yet reopened.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear due to lack of a current disability as defined by VA regulation. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left ear tinnitus due to noise exposure during service. The case is sent back for clarification on units used at induction, further examination of current hearing loss, and consideration of other potential causes.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active military service. The Veteran's reports of in-service noise exposure are considered credible, and his current symptoms are seen as consistent with any such exposures.

The Board has remanded the cases of hearing loss and headaches due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his hearing loss due to a lack of recent examination, and requests that he be provided with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected. The right knee arthritis, status post TKA, is denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to December 22, 2017 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for his hearing loss.,Service connection for left knee disability and right knee status post medial meniscectomy are remanded due to insufficient medical examination or opinion regarding etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus caused or contributed to his death.

The claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss is reopened and remanded. The claim for a compensable evaluation of left ear hearing loss is also remanded.