Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a ventricular septal defect, and/or heart murmur. The decision on these issues is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The petition to reopen previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II to include as due to exposure to Agent Orange is granted.

The Veteran's claim of weight gain is denied as it does not constitute a disease or injury for which service connection may be established.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s left knee osteoarthritis and chronic right knee strain have been rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that entitlement to ratings in excess of 10 percent is not warranted based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder joint sprain, status post acromion open reduction and internal fixation has been rated at 20 percent. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating given the current clinical findings.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss has been rated at noncompensable (0%). The Board finds no basis for an increased rating based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder residual surgical scar and left side of hip residual surgical scars have both been rated at 20 percent. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating given the current clinical findings.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s restless leg syndrome has not been evaluated by VA as it is not service-connected.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, left hip arthritis, right hip disability, and head injury have all been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure proper development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no current disability related to the claimed conditions, or that any such disabilities are due to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against its onset during active duty or being related to an in-service injury.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with both conditions found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of medical opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to his in-service acoustic trauma. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for bilateral hearing loss and left eye disability. The initial rating of PTSD prior to April 27, 2017, is granted at a 70% level. Other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, Lewy-Body dementia, a neurocognitive disorder (Parkinson's disease), and an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are all granted. Service connection is established on the basis of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claim for PTSD was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his service, specifically his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's back and hip disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to the November 2018 NAS report finding sufficient evidence of association with herbicide exposure.,A disability rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD is remanded.,,

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims by the Veteran during his hearing.,Additional development is required for the following issues: whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for residuals of a neck injury, service connection for sleep apnea secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder and service-connected sinusitis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), initial rating higher than 10 percent for right shoulder strain and rotator cuff tendonitis, initial rating higher than 10 percent for instability of the left knee, and initial rating higher than 10 percent for left knee strain with meniscus repair surgery.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, have precluded him from substantially gainful occupation since May 24, 2013. An earlier effective date of May 24, 2013 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left knee injury are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The effective date remains pending as the RO has not addressed this issue in its decision.

The Board found that the reduction in disability rating from 40 percent to 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss effective May 1, 2016 was proper based on consistent audiometric evaluations supporting a 10% disability level.