Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for psychiatric disability, PTSD, sleep disturbance, headaches and high blood pressure due to the Veteran's service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, both secondary to PTSD. The other claims have been denied as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have not rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, frostbite residuals of the left and right feet, and tinnitus, are severe enough to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided that more evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss disability is related to his service, and has ordered a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to in-service exposure to Agent Orange. Additional development is needed to verify the Veteran’s exposure to toxic chemicals at Chanute Air Force Base.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current left knee condition, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed. The petition to reopen his service-connected bilateral hearing loss claim has been granted, but the issue of an increased evaluation in excess of 50 percent disabling for PTSD is being remanded.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim was reopened due to new evidence showing a current diagnosis and etiology related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability. The decision on service connection remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance of another person due to his nonservice-connected COPD.,The Veteran was found eligible for TDIU as he met the percentage requirements with a combined rating of 70 percent from service-connected conditions, and his unemployability was determined to be due to his service-connected disabilities.,The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied because there was no evidence that VA's care or treatment caused the Veteran’s death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service due to exposure to loud noises.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, insomnia, headaches, an unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence related to his service connection claims.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss throughout the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on credible lay evidence of symptom onset.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment prior to August 4, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, gout, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular accident residuals, concussion residuals, right shoulder disorder, and scar on the back of head as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service separation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral tinea pedis as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his active military service.