Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received by VA and outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss from May 18, 2016 is now before the RO again.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the case is still pending as new examinations are needed to determine if his current hearing loss was aggravated by service. His claims for increased ratings for right knee arthritis and degenerative joint/disc disease of the lumbar spine are also being remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for this condition. The issues of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for DDD of the lumbar spine L5-S1 and an initial compensable rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee are remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, but his diabetes mellitus type II is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of initial rating disability rating greater than 20 percent for a lumbar spine condition, service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD), and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected as it is related to his in-service exposure to loud aircraft noise, and the Board granted this claim based on resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected.,Service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease status post bypass grafting and residuals of transient ischemic attacks is remanded.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA examinations and a review of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hip disabilities, lower extremity radiculopathy, low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss/tinnitus. The Veteran is not entitled to TDIU at this time as more current evidence is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues related to his service-connected left ear hearing loss and prostate cancer. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to determine the severity of these conditions and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral arterial disease of the left and right lower extremities, and Raynaud's disease have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of current disabilities in any of these conditions.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran did not meet the criteria set out by VA regulations for a disability to be considered for compensation purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as 10 percent disabling, but the VA examiner found that his hearing did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to the severity of his hearing impairment. The Veteran had Level II hearing in the right ear and Level XI hearing in the left ear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no credible evidence showing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 19, 2011, to September 6, 2016. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's claims are not granted at this time.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for a service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. Bilateral hearing loss is presumed due to in-service noise exposure. Tinnitus is presumed as it was reported during service. Hypertension is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure while serving in the Republic of Vietnam.