Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in the left ear and right ear, as there is insufficient evidence to show a current disability or link to service.,The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the worst level of hearing acuity being Level I in both ears. The Board denied a compensable rating based on the mechanical application of the rating schedule to his audiometric evaluations.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for the period from January 27, 2017 to December 5, 2018 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided that the VA audiological examinations are inadequate for decision-making purposes and a new examination must be obtained to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss may be attributed to his exposure to hazardous noise in service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) addressing new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for a withdrawal of the appeal. As such, no further action will be taken on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, and a Skin Disability due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of development. The claims are being returned for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disorder for further action as new evidence was added since the last decision.

Service connection is granted for a right index finger disability, but denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's current left elbow, foot, ankle, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, and hypertension disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right foot disability, and left foot disability. The decision concluded that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his in-service exposure or injury.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but finds that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date because he did not file a timely substantive appeal within 60 days of receiving the SOC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss may be related to his service, but more evidence is needed for a definitive determination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet decided whether these conditions are related to his military service.,Additional evidence was submitted and found to be new and material, allowing the reopening of the claims. However, further development is needed to determine if the conditions are indeed related to service.

The Board has restored the 80 percent rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, effective July 1, 2012. The remaining claims of a higher rating prior to April 17, 2015, for lumbar spine disability and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of sedentary employment despite his diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The request to reopen the claim of service connection for COPD, claimed as a lung disorder, was granted and remanded due to need for further development regarding exposure to asbestos.