Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, vision problems, and hypertension have been denied. His headaches are currently rated at 30% but the Veteran seeks a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease and noting a lack of continuity of symptoms after service. The Veteran did not have any complaints or treatment for hearing loss during his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus caused or contributed to his vertigo, Meniere's disease, and other balance issues.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the failure to notify him of a scheduled VA examination, and he was not notified that his appointment had been cancelled.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate 2010 VA examination, requiring a new opinion on whether current bilateral hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records and a new examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids have been granted service connection. The left foot disability, right foot disability, and low back disability have all been denied.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability has not been established due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis lumbar spine with scoliosis, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and a TDIU. The case is remanded to consider additional evidence received since the last rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression, anxiety, and depressive disorder), left knee pain, right knee pain, right ankle pain, left ankle pain, and low back disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD due to incomplete records and need for additional examination.

The Veteran was granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, which is presumed to have been caused by noise exposure during active duty.,Service connection for arterial hypertension was denied as the evidence did not show a link between the condition and service.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the issue with a separate appeal for a higher initial evaluation for left ear hearing loss, and because the AOJ needs updated employment information from the Veteran.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is due to in-service noise exposure. The tinnitus claim was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's conditions had their onset during service and are etiologically related to service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The Board also remanded the claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD due to a lack of recent VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a back injury are granted. The decision on the hearing loss claim is based on direct evidence, while the decision on the back injury claim is remanded due to new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cause of death due to parotid cancer and disability resulting from asbestos exposure, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or contributing to his death.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the initial rating period on appeal, and the Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and examination to address his service-connected tinnitus, sleep disorder (insomnia), bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and heart disease.