Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at 80 percent combined, but the Board finds that they do not render him unemployable due to his education and work experience. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent disability rating, which is the maximum schedular rating authorized under the applicable rating criteria. The Board finds no other applicable diagnostic code on which a higher schedular disability rating could be assigned for his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate examination based on incomplete conversion of service treatment records audiometric findings.

Service connection is granted for right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, but the claim for a right ankle disability is not addressed as it was not appealed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on several issues, including service connection for diabetes and increased ratings for various knee and shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since August 17, 2010 and increased to 30 percent effective May 26, 2017. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for reconsideration in light of additional evidence, including private treatment records from various VA and non-VA facilities. The Appellant is requesting that these matters be reconsidered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relationship to service. The appellant is seeking service connection for this condition, which was diagnosed after separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and the Veteran did not have a hearing disability within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The Parry Romberg Syndrome claim is remanded as it is intertwined with the hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and tinnitus) prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence received since his last denial.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss because no new and material evidence was submitted, despite a VA examination finding that the pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated beyond normal progression in military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the highest possible level (10%) and no higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any diagnostic code.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a right eye injury and initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hemorrhoids is denied. The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA disability criteria.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied as there is no current evidence of such a condition or functional impairment.,Service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and right hip osteoarthritis is denied because the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence showing these conditions were incurred during service.,Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and right ankle disability is denied as there is no current evidence of such conditions or functional impairment.,Service connection for tubal ligation is denied because the procedure was voluntary and not due to disease or injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee arthritis due to new evidence received since the July 1983 rating decision. The Veteran's claim for service connection is reopened, but further examination is needed to determine if his hearing loss was aggravated by service and if his knee arthritis is related to military service.