Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The appeal for service connection for hypertension is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to his death.

The appeal regarding the issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's headache disorder is related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for a back disorder, left thigh disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete records. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted, and the matter of a compensable rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's history of renal stone of the left ureter is not compensable as it does not affect his body or exposed areas, nor does he require topical therapy.,Service connection for ischemic cardiomyopathy (cardiac disorder) due to exposure to herbicide agents is remanded.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to exposure to herbicide agents is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and is being remanded.,The Veteran's left foot disorder, right foot disorder, hypertension, chronic acid reflux, memory loss, chronic headache disorder, and sleep disorder are all being remanded.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to exposure to herbicide agents is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability, granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to his in-service noise exposure and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty service.,Prostate cancer, presumed due to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand, is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus, render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability since September 12, 2012.

The Board has found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as his current conditions are not related to his military service.,Regarding the right leg condition, the Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, it denied these claims as there is no medical link between his active service and his current conditions.

The Board found no current diagnoses of arthritis, hypertension, a bilateral eye disability, GERD, ED, cold weather injuries, peripheral neuropathy, or a right ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's statements regarding these conditions were not supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at the highest possible disability rating since November 28, 2012. Effective August 15, 2018, he is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD and additional disabilities that are also service connected.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, needs further review due to a duty-to-assist error. The case is being remanded to provide an updated medical opinion regarding whether the tinnitus was aggravated by his hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, now claimed as secondary to recurrent otitis media and tinnitus. However, the claim is denied because there is no evidence that her current hearing loss is related to her military service or her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. Prior to January 24, 2018, the rating remained at noncompensable (0%). From January 24, 2018 onwards, a rating of 20% was granted.