Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for ED, BHL, tinnitus, OSA, and depression are reopened. The Board has remanded several issues including increased ratings and effective dates. Service connection is granted for OSA but denied for BHL and tinnitus. Depression is service connected.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right and left leg disorders, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, GERD, erectile dysfunction, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, achilles tendonitis, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, edema of the lower extremities, residuals of a head injury, migraine headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica of the left leg, and psychiatric disorder manifested by a head injury, all related to Reserve service. The Board found that there was no evidence of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus type 2 due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability. The Veteran's depressive disorder NOS is found to be related to his military service.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted. However, the decision on service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion in the July 2015 VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back, and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, heart disease, liver disorder (abnormal liver enzymes), and gastroesophageal reflux disease were denied as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma. The decision is based on credible lay statements from the Veteran and his family members.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an esophageal perforation and acquired psychiatric disability, to include as secondary to the esophageal perforation, and any other issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the VA criteria for establishing a hearing loss disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, and therefore his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss must be denied. The cases of low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depression) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for headaches, hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals will be readjudicated after the completion of the requested development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 40 percent since October 2016, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the October 1961 audiometry results and the need for an addendum opinion from an audiologist.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating as his current level of impairment does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss. The claims of service connection for heart disease and hypertension due to herbicide exposure were reopened, but the claim for TDIU prior to March 1, 2013 was denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further evaluation as the current ratings do not reflect their severity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, kidney disability, and COPD. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.,Service connection was not granted because there was no medical evidence showing a link between any of the disabilities and the Veteran's time in active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and hypertension have been granted. The claim for low back disability is remanded.