Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss had its onset in service, while his right ear hearing loss was not present during service or for years thereafter and is not caused by any incident of service. As a result, the Veteran is granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus, type I, but not secondary to a pre-existing eye or foot disorder. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptoms for the claimed eye and foot disorders.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but he is now receiving a noncompensable disability rating.,His claim for an increased rating for sinusitis prior to October 1, 2013 and a higher rating thereafter has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, but his combined disability rating is not sufficient to establish entitlement due to lack of additional service-connected disability bringing the total to at least 40%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examinations. The issues include service connection for various conditions, a higher rating for his lumbar disability, and TDIU.

The Veteran's acne vulgaris and PTSD have been rated, but the TDIU claim is still pending as there has not been a final decision regarding it. The Board granted a 100% schedular rating for PTSD from January 27, 2014, which resolved the issue of TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including clarification of his claim for TDIU and consideration of an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and rationale provided in a previous VA examination. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is being reviewed again with an addendum opinion from a suitable replacement audiologist.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied as he refused to report for VA examinations without good cause shown.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including left ear hearing loss, PTSD, DJD with supraspinatus tendon tear in the left shoulder, laceration right wrist with ulnar neuropathy and degenerative changes, and bilateral tinnitus.,The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus that is related to his active duty service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions of PTSD, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities rendered him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment prior to April 21, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating prior to September 15, 2010, or greater than 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right ear hearing loss and determine if he has mixed or conductive hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to an inability to locate him and provide a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The case is being remanded for further examination and review.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn in its entirety.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to conceded noise exposure during service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD has been granted, with a final effective date of February 6, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA is denied.