Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, gout, residuals of meningitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, schizophrenia, memory loss and diminishing capacity), staph infection (to include various skin disorders), hypertension, loss of eyesight in one eye, residuals of frostbite, ingrown toenails, and loss of teeth, are not service-connected as they were not caused by or related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability due to lack of proof of current disability, as audiometric testing did not meet VA compensation requirements.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and cervical strain are related to his service, but the initial compensable rating for traumatic brain injury is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The hearing loss case is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple knee and foot conditions, as well as hearing loss and TBI residuals, are dismissed. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle conditions, right and left knee conditions, back condition, residuals of TBI, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was submitted to warrant readjudicating the claims for service connection for loss of use of legs, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss as the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen during service and there was no evidence of in-service aggravation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete VA examination and the need for updated evidence regarding his current employment status and disability severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his left knee disability. The Veteran must be provided a new VA examination to address whether his current left knee disability is related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was found to be manifested by no more than Level II hearing acuity in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence of exceptional or unusual disability that would warrant an extraschedular rating.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not have current disabilities of these conditions at any point prior to or during the pendency of his claims.,Service connection was not granted because there is no evidence of a current disability in either condition as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's hearing acuity has not been shown to be higher than Level VIII in his right ear and Level V in his left ear since January 18, 2018.,The Board is remanding the claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 18, 2018 and for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss, fibrous dysplasia of the left nasal cavity, and headaches are remanded due to incomplete information.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and left hip disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to missing documents in his electronic claims file. The AOJ is required to locate and upload any missing documentation, including a March 2003 rating decision, VA Form 21-4138 received January 28, 2008, claim to reopen filed on February 26, 2010; a March 7, 1978 treatment record from Herbert Thomas Hospital; a VA Medical Center Shreveport treatment record from September 15, 2006; a letter of inquiry from Senator Landrieu, and a newspaper article entitled 'VA Vows to End Backlog.'

The Veteran's claims for skin cancer, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, vertigo, dementia, depression, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus have been denied. The claim for right ear hearing loss has been granted with a 0% rating effective November 5, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted, and the claim is also granted. The initial compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss and an increased rating for major depressive disorder are remanded. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the other issues and will be addressed after they have been resolved.