Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0 percent) due to the severity of his hearing impairment, which ranges from Level I in the right ear and Level II in the left ear. The rating assigned reflects the functional impact on the Veteran's ability to hear clearly in conversations.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete medical records and unverified in-service stressors.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected, and his claim for an increased rating for his right ankle sprain and service connection for a back disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate nexus opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in disability more nearly approximating occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and impaired impulse control. An initial rating of 70 percent since June 11, 2014 for PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's representative requested to withdraw the appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, leading to its dismissal.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus and depression claims are also remanded due to lack of a medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied service connection for emphysema. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be related to in-service exposure to harmful noise, while his emphysema is not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and an increased rating for tinnitus is denied. The Veteran's PTSD claim has been remanded.,PTSD remains at the maximum schedular rating of 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in January 2016 was inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a new opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus onset during his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board. The VA examinations conducted during the appeal period showed that his service-connected bilateral hearing loss equated to no more than a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are claimed to be related to service exposure to noise.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate reasoning in the previous VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and migraine headaches have been granted. The right ankle disability claim has been dismissed, as the Veteran withdrew it from appeal. The acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD claim has also been dismissed. For the entire appeal period, a 50% rating is assigned for migraine headaches.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has vacated its previous decision and remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a June 2018 nexus statement from Dr. L.N., which concluded that in-service non-ionizing radiation exposure caused hearing loss. The Board will now review this claim with expert audiological opinions.