Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for diabetes, including as due to herbicide exposure. The initial rating claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, including those related to exposure to herbicide agents, as the evidence did not establish actual or presumed exposure and the conditions were not shown to be directly related to active duty service.

The Veteran's back disorder, hypertension, and hearing loss are all being remanded for further examination and opinion. The service connection for the back disorder is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure. For hypertension, a new VA opinion is needed considering the November 2018 National Academy of Sciences study. Hearing loss requires an ENT specialist's opinion on its relation to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left hand disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board will provide a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran's hypertension, right ear hearing loss disability, left knee disability, cold injury to the feet, ed (erectile dysfunction), glaucoma, frostbite to the nose and ears, neurological impairment of bilateral upper and lower extremities, and arthritis of bilateral upper and lower extremities are being remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of hearing impairment for VA purposes. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the Veteran's ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left ear sensorineural hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, right knee degenerative joint disease (right knee disability), obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The Veteran is now receiving a 10% rating for his allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The matter is now for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequacies in the examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for service connection for a chronic headache disability, hearing loss, and dermatitis. The Veteran's tinnitus, left knee strain, and foot disability are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected conditions, including the presumptively service-connected coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure. The Board determined that none of his service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen her previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for right ankle disability, allergies, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for chronic sinus infections was denied as there is no current evidence of a disability. Service connection for asthma and sleep apnea were also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for left and right knee conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than ADHD), and a lower back condition were denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for transient ischemic attack, back injury, dysthymia, and hypertension. The decision also includes a remand for additional evidence regarding bilateral hearing loss and total disability due to individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not begin during service, within a year of separation from service, or is otherwise related to his military noise exposure. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, gout, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and headache disability as there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that caused the conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are etiologically related to his time in service.