Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD are all granted as service-connected. The higher initial rating for coronary artery disease is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision also remanded several issues, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney stones, earlier effective dates, and TDIU.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for a right foot disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but both conditions are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, hearing loss, TBI, and headaches, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions precluded him from securing such employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral heel spurs, bilateral tinea pedis, chronic sinus disorder, OSA, hemorrhoids, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and nonservice-connected pension claims have been dismissed.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim has been granted.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) claim has been granted.,The following issues are remanded: service connection for a vision disability, vertigo, heart condition, and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relation to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death. The appellant is seeking to be recognized as a helpless child of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. The other issues regarding gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and hemorrhoids have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is granted, and the case is remanded to determine its etiology. The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his service-connected right ear hearing loss is remanded due to the inconsistency of pure tone threshold and speech recognition scores in the previous VA examination, requiring another evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his condition does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, finding equipoise in the evidence. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development, including obtaining SSA disability records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, while the back condition is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine conditions, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to duty-to-assist errors. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic headaches remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a VA examination regarding whether his vertigo is caused or aggravated by service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities.,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded to determine if his sleep apnea is related to his morbid obesity, which may be secondary to his service-connected spine, ankle, and hip disabilities.