Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and evaluations in excess of certain percentages for various conditions, as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction is now rated at 40 percent since August 23, 2011.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are both rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The case is remanded for consideration of service connection for a low back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The initial ratings for left and right ankle sprains were also denied, but the rating for left ankle sprain from June 5, 2015 onwards was granted at a 20% level. The Veteran's PTSD claim resulted in an initial non-compensable rating which has been maintained.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of a current disability. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and providing an opinion on the etiology of any memory loss disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service despite a negative VA examination. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are adequately addressed by the current schedular criteria and there is no evidence of marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalizations.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities, including PTSD, right hand/wrist disability, lumbar spine condition, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The Board has also determined that verification of the Veteran's in-service stressors is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss or sufficient medical opinion to establish a link between service and either condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA audiology records and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of recent medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide any additional relevant records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and an increased rating is denied.,The effective date for a 80 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss has been changed to January 6, 2014. The earlier claim for this increase in disability is remanded as it cannot be granted prior to the date of treatment on January 6, 2014.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder is being remanded due to a lack of VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's widow is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for loss of balance due to lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal of his initial rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed because he withdrew the appeal in September 2018.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for tinnitus, but has remanded his hearing loss claim due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's employability and functional impairment of his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is still seeking TDIU based on his cardiac disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional audiometric testing and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all appeals.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation has been granted.,The Veteran's claim regarding a proposed reduction of his bilateral hearing loss disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent is remanded. The matter of whether he warrants a higher disability rating since April 2016 will also be addressed.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded and the VA Director of Compensation Service must consider an extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (b).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee, ear hearing loss, tinnitus, cardiac disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and carpal tunnel disabilities may be related to service. However, due to lack of medical evidence on record regarding these claims, the case is being remanded for further development.