Hearing loss decisions — 2020

Service connection for adult onset diabetes mellitus (ACE) is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim.,Service connection for right shoulder arthritis is granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition was related to service, specifically a football injury during active duty and subsequent treatment in service.,Service connection for left knee disability is denied. The Board concluded there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service or any nexus between the current condition and service-connected conditions.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted based on its manifestation in service and after separation from service.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced ringing in his ears since separation from service.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 6, 2015 for the grant of service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism, status post thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter is granted as related to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. The effective date of the award of service connection for eczema is set at September 25, 2017, which was within one year of the Veteran's intent to file a claim. Hearing loss and sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not sufficiently disabling to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sleep apnea and umbilical hernia were denied, while the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened but not granted. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is rated at 50 percent since December 14, 2002, due to use of a CPAP machine. His postoperative umbilical hernia remains noncompensable as it does not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent effective February 1, 2017.,The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his increased disability rating of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that he does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for chronic kidney disease, as well as several other accrued benefits claims. The cause of death issue is also inextricably intertwined with these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his fatigue and tiredness, which may be related to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability. His bilateral hearing loss case remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The issue of an initial compensable rating for TBI is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being submitted after a supplemental statement of the case, and the Veteran requested that it be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal of his increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hypertension has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not show a level of hearing impairment warranting such a rating during the appeal period.

The Veteran's tinnitus, PTSD, back condition, and hearing loss are all granted. The service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the intertwined nature with the PTSD claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to scheduling issues. The case will be returned for a VA examination at a facility closest to the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of bilateral hearing loss during service and its relation to post-service occupation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings and TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected disabilities, as well as their impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% effective November 8, 2010. A TDIU is granted from that date. The Veteran also has a non-compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a 10% rating for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level II in the right ear and no worse than Level III in the left ear. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.