Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in March 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder deterioration are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and clarification, including service connection claims due to Agent Orange exposure, a new examination for PTSD, and additional treatment records for hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his PTSD with alcohol dependence is currently rated at 70 percent.,While the Veteran seeks an increased rating for his PTSD, the current rating of 70 percent adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are already at their maximum ratings, so no increased ratings can be granted.,The Veteran's respiratory disorder claim was reopened but denied due to failure to attend a VA examination without good cause. The hypertension claim is denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or other presumptive conditions.,There is insufficient objective medical evidence for the Veteran’s respiratory and hypertension claims, necessitating a VA examination which he failed to attend.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of injury to nose was granted. The claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board has found that the VA records dating back to 1977 have not been fully obtained, and thus remanded for further development. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded due to incomplete evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, psychiatric disability with sleep impairment (other than PTSD), left knee disability, and low back disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee condition. The claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and a knee condition are currently pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claim for an earlier effective date for left knee disability. The claims for service connection and initial rating for other conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, hearing loss, colon cancer, asthma, and gum disease due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, but his claim to reopen the previously denied claims of gastroenteritis and bilateral hearing loss disability was granted. The application for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to May 23, 2011, and for compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, and a separate rating of 10 percent for right knee instability since July 18, 2015 are denied. The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for right knee flexion and extension prior to November 16, 2015 is also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and the disability is found to be related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the invalid results from a previous VA examination. The examiner needs to provide an addendum explaining what steps were taken to obtain valid results.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between the disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both on a direct basis. The TDIU claim is remanded as it will impact the initial ratings and effective dates for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, sleep apnea, and tinnitus has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, no service connection is granted as there is no current disability found for any of these conditions.,An effective date earlier than January 11, 2016 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and potential TDIU claim are being remanded for further evaluation.