Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative, which suggests a link between in-service noise exposure and current bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be further evaluated with an addendum opinion from a different examiner.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a left knee disability is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, a gastrointestinal (GI) disability, including GERD, and increased ratings for manifestations of a left knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and will require another examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's reported in-service right ear injury and noise exposure, requiring further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to outstanding medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active duty service, as evidenced by normal hearing at separation and no evidence of delayed onset hearing loss. The Board finds the VA examination opinion more probative than the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination findings regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The examiner is instructed to consider the full record, including the Veteran's lay statements and types of noise exposure during service, and determine if it is at least as likely as not that his right ear hearing loss had its onset during service or is causally related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable, with no worse than Level I hearing acuity in both ears. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the entirety of the appeal period.

The Board dismissed the appeal of sleep apnea. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted service connection.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a sinus condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,A 10 percent initial rating for hypertension prior to November 18, 2016 was granted. The Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during this period.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension from November 18, 2016 through December 15, 2016 was denied as his blood pressure readings were below the threshold for a 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension from December 16, 2016 was also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and depressive disorder. The effective date of the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains May 16, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating prior to December 5, 2016. The Board denied his claim as he did not have at least one disability rated at 40 percent with a combined evaluation of 80 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, but his left and right knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent audiometric test showing Level II hearing in the right ear and Level I in the left ear. The Board found that the VA examination was valid and considered the Veteran's need for hearing aids.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no competent or credible evidence of a hearing loss disability in service or related to service.

The reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss disability from 70 percent to 50 percent effective December 1, 2015, was improper, and the 70 percent rating is restored. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 70 percent disabling for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective October 2, 2006.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and the Board dismissed the appeal due to this request.

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