Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's psoriasis was granted service connection as it worsened during service and is presumed to have been aggravated by service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted based on continuity of symptoms since separation from service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no current disability of either condition. The Board also remanded the claim for service connection for tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination reports.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities were evaluated as 100% disabling prior to August 1, 2016. From August 1, 2016, the criteria for entitlement to a TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to non-service-connected conditions such as obesity and amputation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for right ear hearing loss was denied as the earliest date of entitlement to an increase in disability compensation is December 14, 2011.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a 10 percent rating for left foot post-traumatic exostosis was denied as there was no formal or informal claim pending prior to December 17, 2004.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further verification of his National Guard service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain missing medical records, verify his periods of active duty, and consider possible undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multi-symptom illness if confirmed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further consideration by the Director of Compensation Service due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from working.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a chronic respiratory disability (emphysema and recurrent bronchitis), and bilateral hearing loss have been granted.,Evidence showed the Veteran had continuous symptoms of these conditions since separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports and the need for additional treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which was conceded in his service record as related to noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bruxism and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes, and concluded that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone were insufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, headaches with dizziness, and left thumb disability. The appeals are now pending before VA for further examination and determination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, left and right knee disabilities, and PTSD. Additional development is required to obtain VA treatment records, disability retirement records from the Railroad Retirement Board, and in-service psychiatric treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service, and the Veteran's claim lacked credibility due to his inconsistent statements.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened. The claim for tinnitus has been granted.,The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is reopened, and the case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asbestosis, cervical and lumbar spine conditions, shoulder osteoarthritis, tinnitus, knee degenerative arthritis, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and incomplete records, including service treatment records from the Veteran's Air Force Reserve period. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered with additional examinations and a review of all available records.

The appeal for the issues of service connection and increased evaluations is dismissed. The issue of TDIU remains pending.