Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran's hearing was normal at separation and no in-service injury, event or disease is linked to his current condition.

The Veteran's anxiety with alcohol dependence and bilateral hearing loss are not rated higher than the current assigned disability ratings. The claim for a TDIU is granted due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss in the right ear is related to service exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with a finding of Level II hearing in both ears. The Board found the evidence insufficient to warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, and his sensorineural hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's COPD, hypertensive heart disease, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including memory disorder, major depression, and generalized anxiety), and erectile dysfunction are all remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his left wrist disability, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, calculus of the left ureter, and PTSD. The Veteran was granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability from September 27, 2007 to June 12, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss as no new and material evidence was submitted, despite the Veteran's assertions that he currently experiences a bilateral hearing loss incurred during his active duty.

The Board has found that the VA's duty to assist is triggered and remand is warranted for further development due to incomplete VA examinations regarding the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran seeks service connection for these conditions, which are related to a motorcycle accident during active duty.

The Board has remanded three issues for further examination and evaluation: right ear hearing loss, gastrointestinal disability (GERD), and headache disorder. The Veteran's claims are based on service connection under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1117 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected, but his sleep apnea and muscle pain claims are remanded for further development.,His low back disability and headaches are also remanded for further development. His left-hand disability claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating reductions for the Veteran's disabilities. The propriety of the reductions in evaluations for neck disability and bilateral hearing loss is under consideration, as are other claims including those for BPH, erectile dysfunction, gout, pre-diabetes mellitus, eye disability, left ventricular hypertrophy, back pain, tongue growth removal, creatinine kinase elevation, and accessory muscle of the neck.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination and consideration due to inadequate reasoning in the previous VA opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for left ear hearing loss was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has dismissed all issues of entitlement to service connection due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of VA examination, as well as missing audiogram records. The Veteran's service connection claims are being sent back for further investigation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to active service and grants service connection for this condition.