Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new audiological examination and consideration of extraschedular considerations.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ear hearing loss, right hip condition, and left knee condition. The claims are being remanded to obtain necessary medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The appeal for SMC for the loss of use of a creative organ is dismissed.,Issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.,Service connection for tinnitus is remanded as it may be related to his hearing loss, which has not been addressed yet.,Service connection for a heart condition, presumed secondary to herbicide agent exposure (gulf war), is remanded. Additional VA treatment records are needed.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the possibility of current psychiatric disability.,The rating for neurodermatitis is remanded as there may be changes in medication use.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee DJD, migraines, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, hypertension, and hearing loss, prevented him from securing or following any form of substantially gainful employment prior to February 12, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has dismissed all the claims as they are related to a deceased appellant.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the average pure tone thresholds during the examination did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, and the claim for a higher rating for right ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, residuals of a left ankle injury, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus have been reopened.,Tinnitus has been granted as service connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, back disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and psychiatric disorder due to inadequate examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained during active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is considered a disability for VA purposes and he has provided competent credible statements regarding the continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that his current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to combat noise exposure during service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been rated at 10 percent each, effective May 18, 2012.,Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) has also been granted service connection with a 10 percent rating, effective May 18, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for migraine headaches due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable due to the severity of his hearing impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, and liver cancer, are sufficient to render him unemployable without regard to his age or any nonservice-connected disorders. The Board has granted TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.