Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for a back disability, heart disability, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal disability (claimed as diarrhea), acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety, depression, and PTSD), respiratory disability (claimed as breathing problems) to include COPD, left upper quadrant curvilinear calcification (claimed as aortic aneurysm), and enlarged prostate have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA audiological examination and obtaining updated medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations. The Veteran's right leg injury and bilateral hearing loss are being reviewed, but without complete records and a proper examination, it is not possible to determine if service connection should be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's exposure to noise during active service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 19, 2017 was denied. From April 19, 2017 onwards, the Veteran sought an increased rating higher than 30 percent. Both requests were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his active duty service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of medical evidence linking the disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is due to noise exposure during service and has been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease, hypertension, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims for these conditions are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip and left hip disability secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle condition, finding that these disabilities are caused by his over-compensating gait.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension as there was no evidence of a disability during the period of the claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis to grant an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his right ear hearing loss and tinnitus claims, as well as denied his left ear hearing loss claim. The Veteran is found to have current disabilities of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus that are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder and PTSD), stomach disorder (GERD and hiatal hernia), bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral hip disorder due to failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, type two diabetes mellitus, and skin cancer are denied. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to September 28, 2013 was denied. An initial 10 percent rating is granted on and after September 28, 2013.,A heart disorder, including as due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, remains an issue for remand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee condition due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, granted the claim for service connection for tinnitus, and remanded the remaining claims of service connection for urinary tract disability. A VA examination is required to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and urinary tract disabilities.

The Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was effective from March 1, 2010. The Appellant is not entitled to enhanced DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1311(a)(2) as the Veteran did not have a continuous period of at least eight years of total disability prior to his death.