Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury with memory loss, and a headache disorder are denied. The claim for increased rating of PTSD is also denied.

The Board has determined that new material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a skin condition, and to that extent only, the claim is granted. The claims of service connection for hearing loss disability and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss.,Regarding service connection for cardiovascular disease, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents and/or as secondary to PTSD, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current condition and any in-service exposures or service-connected conditions. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and anxiety disorder are of such severity that they prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating were dismissed. The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in the right ear, denied a higher rating for PTSD, granted a TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities, and remanded several issues.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to a lack of evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active duty service, despite the Veteran's assertions.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD and additional service-connected disabilities rated at 60 percent or more. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted from January 1, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with the Board finding that his hearing impairment does not warrant a compensable rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence and failure to appear for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions began during service and have been recurrent since then.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and found to be at Level I in both ears, resulting in a zero percent disability rating. The Board denied the claim for an initial, compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a heart disorder, sleep disorder, and hypertension due to new evidence. However, it denied reopening of the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as well as service connection for headaches, diabetes mellitus, COPD, and chronic kidney disease.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2, and granted initial ratings of 20 percent for diabetic polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability and remanded his case for further action regarding his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, high cholesterol, chronic conjunctivitis, and psychiatric disabilities were denied. The Veteran was granted increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, painful limited motion of the right knee, instability of the right knee, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, and plantar fasciitis of the left foot before specific dates. Other claims for service connection or increased ratings were remanded.