Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a higher disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The decision found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran’s current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, and a 30 percent rating is assigned for recurrent right ear perforated tympanic membrane and recurrent otitis media and externa. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, and status-post myocardial infarction disability is rated at 30 percent prior to May 2, 2017, and denied a higher rating since March 24, 2017. Service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, blurred vision, left-ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection was granted for right-ear hearing loss.,Service connection for lumbar spine disorder was denied due to lack of evidence showing a link between the condition and active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss due to new VA treatment records being added to the record. The Veteran did not respond within the required time frame to waive AOJ review of these records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) during which he was exposed to noise from cannon fire and rifles. The decision also acknowledges that the Veteran had normal hearing at separation but did not receive a discharge examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore a 10 percent rating for his bilateral hearing loss, effective December 1, 2016. The evidence did not support restoration of this rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, OSA, and CVA were denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for PTSD was dismissed as a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not filed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents is granted, and a rating of 10 percent is assigned for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection, but the rating for his hearing loss remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and right ear hearing loss disability have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus, render him unemployable from June 1, 2015 to June 11, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made. The appeals for right upper extremity neurologic disorder, left upper extremity neurologic disorder, and left shoulder impingement syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 0% from August 2, 2013 to December 17, 2018. From December 17, 2018, the Veteran is now rated at 40%. The rating decision grants a higher disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as related to service due to noise exposure.,Bilateral knee osteoarthritis is also granted, with the condition being linked to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss may have worsened since his last VA examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development as there appear to be relevant treatment records that may substantiate the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 30 percent for PTSD prior to January 9, 2018. A higher rating is denied. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent beginning January 9, 2018.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss requires further examination and evaluation due to incomplete medical records and conflicting opinions regarding the onset and cause of his hearing loss.