Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's spouse was not awarded an earlier effective date for the addition of herself to his compensation award because she did not submit a VA Form 21-686c within one year of being notified of her eligibility, and thus the earliest possible effective date is July 9, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient evidence regarding their service connection.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gout, kidney condition (adrenal adenoma), obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus have been denied. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure. The claims for left ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for right inguinal hernia repair were denied.

The appeal of the denial of a higher initial rating for tinnitus is dismissed. The claims for TDIU and hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding an increased rating for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of a compensable rating for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened. The Board has determined that the evidence received since the February 2011 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,The Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and sleep apnea due to new and material evidence having been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing audiometric results and clarification of testing methods. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being evaluated for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and issues related to entitlement to an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable (0 percent disabling), and his TDIU claim is denied due to the lack of a combined disability rating sufficient for schedular TDIU, despite his service-connected disabilities preventing him from working.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as new and material evidence was not received. Service connection for GERD is also denied due to lack of a current disability for VA purposes. The initial rating for dyspepsia is granted at 10 percent, but no higher. Effective dates are denied for various claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches have been denied as secondary to his service-connected knee disability. The claim for broken tooth and residual abscess in the mouth for compensation purposes has also been denied.,Service connection is not granted for any of the conditions listed above due to lack of evidence linking them to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, tinnitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss, have been granted effective from December 11, 2013. The bladder tumors were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of low back, bilateral ankle, visual disabilities, nonservice-connected pension and TDIU. The claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is denied. The issues of service connection for right knee, left knee, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for severe bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim for recurrent tinnitus is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

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

The Board has decided that the VA needs to provide a new examination for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim due to incomplete records and previous opinions based on insufficient evidence.