Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected hearing loss prior to September 24, 2018 and a rating in excess of 40 percent thereafter is denied. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a combined evaluation higher than 60 percent, finding that his tinnitus condition was properly incorporated in the existing 60 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in the December 2017 VA examination.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, as the audiometric results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for tinea pedis of the bilateral feet is remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes. A new VA audiological examination is needed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for Stargardt’s disease (claimed as residuals of a bilateral eye injury) is remanded due to the need for clarification on whether the condition preexisted service and if it was subjected to superimposed disease or injury during service. A VA examination is also needed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is remanded as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes. A new VA audiological examination is needed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a rib cartilage disability is remanded due to the need to locate service treatment records from sick bay and obtain an opinion regarding whether the condition had its onset in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has determined that additional opinions and examinations are needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee condition, vision condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart condition, and high blood pressure.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is granted a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of his claim. The other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury residuals, and posttraumatic stress disorder have been denied. The current ratings are considered the maximum allowable under the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened, and he is now granted service connection. His BHL is also granted. The right shoulder tendonitis and PTSD are both rated at the highest possible level (40%). TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a left lung disability is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has current residuals of an in-service respiratory illness and grants service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran has tinnitus which arose within the presumptive period for a chronic disease after leaving service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims require additional examination to determine their etiology, as well as remanding for further examinations regarding his hip condition, bilateral knee conditions, and left arm condition. The back condition claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, colon cancer, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been granted. The appeal is remanded for further examination regarding right ankle disability, gout, and bowel disability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 25, 2016 was denied as he was not unemployable during that period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability ratings are being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to the inextricability of the issues.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 90 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to April 1, 2019 is being remanded due to the lack of audiologic results from September 2016. The VA needs to obtain and associate these records with his claims file before readjudicating the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and 38 U.S.C. § 1151 benefits for diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has reportedly worsened, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and severity of his condition.