Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The Board will consider whether his hearing loss, hypertension, CAD, and diabetes mellitus may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is denied because his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria, including due to non-service-connected Parkinson's Disease.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition, but has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the November 2007 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service or within a presumptive period, did not manifest to a compensable degree within a presumptive period, and were not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology. The Board found that the Veteran’s hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including reported inservice noise exposure.,The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood is rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 9440 due to symptoms such as flattened affect, difficulty understanding complex commands, impairment of short and long-term memory, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective relationships.

Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss based on in-service noise exposure.,Service connection is granted for chest pain, head injury, knee pain, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), headaches (due to treatment for PFB), hypertension, and dizziness secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeals for compensable ratings for nephrolithiasis, a right cheek scar, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and prostate cancer for further development to determine if service connection can be established.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability as the Veteran did not have evidence of in-service noise exposure or onset, and there was no showing that his current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding his right foot disability. The appeal remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right ear hearing loss, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and increased ratings for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and PTSD have been dismissed. The Veteran does not have a current kidney disability.

The Veteran's initial PTSD rating from February 2, 2012 through November 2, 2018 was granted at a 50 percent level. Since then, the Veteran has been rated at 70 percent for PTSD due to persistent occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has a long history of employment and the medical evidence does not indicate that his conditions prevent him from performing any type of work.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at a 20 percent rating, effective prior to March 20, 2018. For the period from March 20, 2018 forward, the Veteran's hearing acuity has been no worse than Level IV in both ears, resulting in a 10 percent rating. The Board denied an increased rating higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability that meets the VA criteria for service connection.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as it is not related to his in-service tinnitus or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection of DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee injury, and right knee injury. The petition to reopen the claim for asthma was also denied as no new and material evidence was presented.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus due to his withdrawal. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.