Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with alcohol use disorder, right total hip replacement, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, result in his need for the aid of another to attend to needs of daily living or to avoid hazards incident to his daily environment. The Board has ordered new examinations to address this issue.

The Board has determined that the medical expenses incurred at Macon County General Hospital on July 21, 2012 were eligible for reimbursement due to the nature of the emergency and the unavailability of a VA facility.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to diabetes due to inaccuracies in the VHA physician's opinion and the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic arthritis of the spine is remanded. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to June 14, 2018 is also remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his functional impairment and ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claim for diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that the Veteran was precluded from substantially gainful employment by reason of his service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, left knee condition, and chronic dry eyes due to incomplete development of his claims.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating for PTSD and denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a significant shift in hearing acuity during service. The VA examiner's opinion supported by clinical findings and medical training concluded that the current left ear hearing loss disability is not related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that both conditions were incurred in and due to his time in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder (claimed as arthritis), and cardiovascular disorder due to potential issues with causation or etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on several issues, including service connection for various conditions and increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral foot condition due to missing VA treatment records. The Veteran is also denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as not incurred or aggravated by service. The Veteran's left shoulder DJD is granted with a 20% rating from August 22, 2016 and denied prior to that date.

The Veteran's death was found to be due to service-connected coronary artery disease, and the claim for DIC benefits is granted. The claim for DIC pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma and hearing loss, as well as his claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and undergo examinations to determine the current severity of his asthma and the etiology of his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, lumbar degenerative disc disease and small disc herniation, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded due to the need for additional development. The Veteran's service connection claims are not supported by evidence of a current disability or a link between his in-service exposure and any diagnosed conditions.

The claims for service connection for hearing loss, CVA, left arm, left hand, left leg, and left foot disabilities have been denied.,The claim for service connection for a disability manifested by memory loss has also been denied.