Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been reopened. The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's 30% rating for bilateral hearing loss to a noncompensable rating, effective December 1, 2014, was improper.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show a disability level warranting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his TDIU claim.

The claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened, but the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a back disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria. The Veteran's hearing loss is considered to be due to noise exposure during active duty.,The claim for service connection for hypertension (claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure) has been denied because the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that hypertension manifested within one year following separation from service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD have been granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss has been remanded. The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD has also been granted to a 70 percent level.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, allergies, and headaches. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The Veteran's PVD is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptoms, and his headaches are denied due to lack of in-service injury.

The Veteran's PTSD causes total occupational and social impairment, resulting in a 100% disability rating. The Board has also remanded several other service connection claims for further examination.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, left hand arthritis, right hand arthritis, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to unresolved issues regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine, right hip, left knee, left ankle, and right ankle disorders as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's respiratory disorder is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions and need for additional evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report for a VA audiology examination. The case will be re-adjudicated after obtaining additional records and scheduling another examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are severe enough to produce unemployability, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss. The Veteran is presumed to have experienced noise exposure during service, but there is insufficient evidence linking his current hearing loss directly to that exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and headaches to include migraines have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability that can be linked to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 20 percent disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss was also denied. The earliest assignable date is October 3, 2016.

The Board has decided that service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the case of bilateral hearing loss needs to be remanded due to insufficient evidence.