Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and reasoning.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hearing loss was denied because he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination. The TDIU claim was also denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise.,Service connection for tremors in both hands due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is remanded as no VA examination has been conducted.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue of service connection for kidney cancer. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from October 20, 2014. The issues of service connection for bladder cancer, hand tremors, lumbar spine disability, coronary artery disease, and left ear hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in a previous decision regarding right ear hearing loss. The Veteran needs to be examined by a clinician to determine if his hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the medical opinion does not support a link between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral knee disability have been reopened, but the issues of lung cancer due to asbestos exposure are denied.,The Veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The decision specifies the rating assigned and effective date for each period of time.

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and left shoulder disability has been granted. The Veteran is now entitled to a 50% evaluation for tension headaches, effective December 16, 2014.

The Board has denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his service-connected disabilities and his dementia or death.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are denied, but the rating for PTSD is increased to 70% effective October 20, 2014.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to have been incurred during service.,His unspecified depressive disorder is determined to be secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied as not related to service.,Back, neck, left knee, and right knee disorders are all denied as not related to service.,Right eye and left eye disorders are also denied as not related to service.,Diabetes mellitus is denied as not related to service.,Peripheral neuropathy in the upper extremities and lower extremities are both denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted, with a current rating of 10 percent.,Hypertension was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Low back disability was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Cervical spine disability was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Arthritis of the bilateral lower extremities was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right leg was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Peripheral neuropathy of the left leg was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,An acquired psychiatric disability to include major depressive disorder is not related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.,Restless leg syndrome of the right leg is not related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.,Restless leg syndrome of the left leg is not related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.,Right hip disability was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to support the reopening of his claims for PTSD and sleep apnea, but not for sarcoidosis, IHD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, DDD of the lumbar spine, or PTSD.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted. Service connection for this condition is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for basal cell carcinoma, left hip disability, and right hip disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The decision on service connection remains unchanged.

The Board denied service connection for a mental disorder, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection was granted for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's National Guard service and its potential impact on his hearing loss.