Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and PTSD) have all been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and he is now entitled to VA compensation for this condition. However, his request for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted. The Board found that the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions, with tinnitus being diagnosed to a compensable degree within one year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to appear for a VA examination related to bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after scheduling another examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (hearing loss, major depressive disorder, left knee chondromalacia, and tinnitus) have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantial and gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss disability was incurred in service or related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's death pension claim was denied because he served less than 90 days during a period of war and had no service-connected disorders at the time of his death.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise to support these conditions.

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension is denied. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for updated VA and private treatment records, as well as an examination to determine the current nature, etiology, and severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity (femoral nerve) was granted with a 20 percent rating effective from April 10, 2018. The Veteran also received TDIU benefits from October 16, 2015 to March 12, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his time in service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been granted. A 70 percent disability rating has been assigned for PTSD, effective from December 17, 2014, the date of his claim to reopen. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the appeal as there was no timely substantive appeal filed regarding the issues of effective dates and ratings for various conditions, as well as service connection for head tumors, a left eye disability, and headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral foot condition, finding that the conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided that a new audiological examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, and thus remands the case for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been reopened. Service connection is granted for the acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD). Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss should be remanded for further evaluation, specifically to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.