Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is evaluated as noncompensable under the Rating Schedule, and there is no evidence of a compensable rating during the appeal period.

The Board has added new medical evidence to the Veteran's claims file and must remand the matter for readjudication in light of this new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The decision also denied a compensable rating for his scar from prostate cancer surgery and denied entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence showing onset during or within one year after service discharge.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The decision found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which he can seek service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and clarification of audiometric testing results.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for diabetes, neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, heart disability, hypertension, thyroid disability, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's death prevented a determination on accrued benefits or substitution purposes.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's congenital spinal deformity claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for hearing loss and PTSD was denied, but the effective date of service connection was set at April 24, 2014.,PTSD was rated as 50 percent prior to April 24, 2014 and 70 percent thereafter. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hyperthyroidism and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for residuals of laceration to the head, including cervical spine disability, vertigo, jaw disability and scarring; hypertension; right knee disability; erectile dysfunction (ED); and sleep disorder, including sleep apnea are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is requested to submit another opinion that addresses his in-service exposure and the threshold reading at separation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as zero percent, which is the lowest possible rating. The Board found that the objective testing did not warrant an increased evaluation due to background or environmental noise.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, and bilateral hearing loss disability are granted. Claims for other conditions such as left foot ingrown toenail, right foot ingrown toenail, left shoulder, right shoulder, low back, right knee, left knee, sleep apnea, tachycardia, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), erectile dysfunction, TBI, headache, and acquired psychiatric disability are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 11, 2016 is denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and lack of consideration of lay statements.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine disability, left lower radiculopathy, tinnitus, right lower radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss, precluded him from obtaining or maintaining any substantially gainful employment consistent with his education, background, and work history prior to May 15, 2015.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any higher rating during the appeal period.