Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation due to an increase in decibels during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as other conditions such as low back disability, hip, ankle, knee, foot disabilities, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric condition. The remand requires obtaining VA treatment records, conducting examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions, and providing opinions on their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of recent VA examination, as well as the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss and TDIU claims have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as he has no single disability rated at 60% or more, nor combined ratings of 70%. He is also unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but the Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a skin disorder is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for nasopharyngeal cancer/nasopharynx carcinoma is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and associated tinnitus are being remanded for further evaluation, including new medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his condition and any related symptoms.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has current hearing loss disability related to service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an initial (compensable) rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the current assigned zero percent (noncompensable) rating adequately reflects his disability level and symptomatology.

The reduction in rating for bilateral hearing loss was restored, effective December 1, 2017. SMC based on deafness in both ears is also restored.,The rating for lumbar strain prior to August 24, 2018, needs to be reviewed and may need an additional VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asbestosis, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is of service origin and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

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 in-service noise exposure. Service connection for hypertension was also granted on the basis of aggravation by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of hearing loss was dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected peripheral vestibular disorder was granted, with a 30% disability rating effective July 12, 2019. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss from October 31, 2006 to June 6, 2012 was denied, and the Veteran received a 20% disability rating for BHL from June 7, 2012 until August 21, 2017. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss after August 22, 2017 was denied.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The service connection claim for tinnitus is granted.