Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and left inguinal hernia for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss and service exposure, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his left inguinal hernia, right inguinal hernia, and umbilical hernia, and determining whether these conditions are related or aggravated by his service-connected left inguinal hernia.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest schedular rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a head injury, increased ratings for pseudophakia and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of increased ratings for back strain/sprain residuals, anxiety disorder (PTSD), and TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 0 percent and the effective date for service connection remains November 4, 2015.

The Board denied claims for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, bilateral hearing loss, sleep disorder, coronary artery disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not caused by or related to active duty service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for new examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and cervical spine strain are not fully addressed.

The Board has dismissed both claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to her reported conditions. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back pain, left knee condition, right ankle condition, and respiratory condition are all remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and the AOJ should review these claims again.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not establish a level of hearing loss sufficient to warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA examination, and needs further evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the April 1982 rating decision. The claims are now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The bilateral hearing loss disability appeal is dismissed without prejudice. The low back condition, bilateral hand condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but the right foot, hip, and knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

An initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for left foot plantar fasciitis is granted.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right foot Morton's neuroma with plantar fasciitis is denied.