Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to new evidence received after previous decisions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and review, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD and major depression were denied due to the finality of previous decisions. The effective dates granted are August 6, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability prior to July 7, 2014 was denied. The claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the period beginning September 28, 2017 was also denied. However, the Veteran is granted a 20 percent evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability from July 7, 2014 to September 28, 2017.

The Board has decided that the reduction from 20 percent to noncompensable for bilateral hearing loss effective January 1, 2013 was proper. The appeal is now remanded for further action on the issue of entitlement to a rating greater than 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss since March 18, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's vertigo is related to his service-connected disabilities and if it is aggravated by them. The AOJ must obtain a supplemental opinion from an examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation due to issues related to PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability benefits records.,The Board has determined that there are outstanding issues related to the Veteran’s TDIU claim, including a need to obtain his Social Security Administration disability benefits records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent. The cases for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his audiometric findings show no more than Level II hearing acuity in either ear.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of bladder cancer is denied as he does not meet the criteria for urinary frequency requiring less than one hour daytime voiding interval or awakening to void five or more times per night.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malaria was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not considered a disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection cannot be established.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for asthma, entitlement to service connection for malaria, entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinnitus, entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), entitlement to an initial compensable rating of bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to a total rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The remand is due to the failure to comply with the duty to assist in obtaining relevant records.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the disorders were noted on entrance to service and did not increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed as the VA has not yet examined him to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss and other ear disorders are service connected, especially in light of her pituitary tumor and its treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches due to incomplete opinions regarding etiology. The Veteran's service records show exposure to noise during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable due to the audiometric test results showing Level II in both ears, which corresponds to a noncompensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vision disability, claimed as defective vision, has been reopened and granted. The rating assigned is 10 percent.