Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals regarding bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and he is granted a total disability rating based upon unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, gastroesophageal disease (GERD), and sinusitis. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the issue of presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as her audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has reopened the service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is at least as likely as not related to his military service. Service connection for a left knee disability was denied due to lack of evidence supporting its onset during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C have been denied.,An effective date of June 29, 2010, but no earlier, has been granted for the increased rating of 100 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as the average hearing threshold levels do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the issues of a rating in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic vertigo, an effective date prior to November 4, 2016, for PTSD, a compensable rate for left ear hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and type II diabetes mellitus, but has remanded the claim for service connection for a tumor behind the right eardrum due to lack of evidence regarding exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides. The AOJ must verify the locations of the USS Kitty Hawk during the period from April 1961 to January 1963 and whether it was in the territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, low back, left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his service.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence. The appellant's acquired psychiatric disability and left ear hearing loss are still under review.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, and his heart condition and hearing loss claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of exceptional patterns of hearing loss. The claim for a higher rating for ulcerative colitis, duodenal ulcer, and GERD remains pending due to the need for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is severe enough to make it difficult for him to find and maintain employment, so the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected, but his obstructive sleep apnea is found to be aggravated by PTSD.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus and a lower back condition are denied. Service connection for cervical spondylosis (claimed as neck condition) is remanded.