Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of worsening to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tension headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

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

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had credible assertions of in-service noise exposure, which likely resulted in some acoustic trauma. There is also competent medical evidence linking his current hearing loss and tinnitus to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left thumb disability were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent rating for the left thumb disability, effective October 2, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his active service. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for back/neck injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and development of claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is being remanded as well.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of bilateral hearing loss, patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and service connection for bilateral pes planus are being remanded due to incomplete records. The TDIU appeal is also deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for liposarcoma and its complications (right foot drop, angioneurotic edema of the left leg, angioneurotica edema of the right leg, and scar status post-surgery), and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are all remanded due to need for further development.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for the claimed respiratory disorder (asbestosis) is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because his notice of disagreement (NOD) was not timely filed, and he did not provide good cause for the delay.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disorders, including right and left arm disorders, a left great toe disorder, a hernia, a right knee disorder, right and left shoulder disorders, sleep apnea (secondary to service-connected psychiatric, lumbar spine, and right lower extremity disabilities), degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and left ear hearing loss. The remand requires obtaining additional medical opinions and records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it did not have its clinical onset during active service and is not related to his service connected diabetes or any other incident of service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and there was no compensable rating for otitis media. The claim for anxiety disorder from April 8, 2011 to September 17, 2013 was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no basis to award an earlier date than May 4, 2017.