Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and residuals of a left ear injury due to incomplete service records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that both conditions began during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, but has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a link between the condition and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. A new VA examination is needed to determine if his current hearing impairment is related to service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic rhinitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the issues of increased rating for rhinitis and sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the issue of left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted service connection, as they are related to in-service acoustic trauma. The Veteran's PTSD is also granted service connection, with a rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as his service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable prior to December 15, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is granted, but the remaining claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for a more current VA examination to rate the claim for increased rating and adjudicate the reduction issue.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for TDIU was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while stationed in Takhli, Thailand. The initial rating for tinnitus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are denied as there is no evidence of exceptional or unusual disability. Service connection for prostate cancer due to Agent Orange exposure is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but has remanded them due to inadequate VA audiology opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination.

Service connection for hearing loss in the right ear is granted.,The claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder (other than sinusitis and residuals of exposure to asbestos) has been reopened, but remains denied as there is no evidence that it is related to military service.,PAD of the bilateral lower extremities was also reopened, but remains denied due to lack of evidence linking it to military service.

The Veteran's death was not determined to be service-connected, and the Board has remanded for further development related to his cause of death claim. The hearing loss condition is rated at 100%.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a right ear hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations and denied service connection for this condition. The left ear hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss ratings have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for chronic sinusitis, but the appeal seeking service connection for tonsillar cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of the left lymph node gland is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder and bilateral hearing loss do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, thus his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to conflicting medical opinions and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.