Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of PTSD, left wrist disability, vision disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of recent examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as new and material evidence has been received. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and depression are REMANDED due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted at a 10% level effective June 3, 2015. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder, low back, left foot, headache, and sciatic nerve disabilities due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an additional opinion being needed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The effective date of the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is July 15, 2017.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for prostate cancer, hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and a neurocognitive disorder with behavioral disturbance and memory issues. The claims are being reviewed due to the need for additional development of records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50%, migraine headaches are rated at 50%, and lumbosacral DDD, right knee cyst removal, right ear tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss are all rated at 10%. The combined rating for these conditions results in an 80% disability rating. The Veteran's appeal is denied as his PTSD does not warrant a higher than 50% rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that prior to June 20, 2014, there was no evidence showing he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, DIC benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1318, and DIC benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of hearing loss during service or within one year after separation, and the medical records do not show a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be at least as likely as not incurred during or caused by his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the evidence being in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, while his bilateral hearing loss is not.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, increased rating for right wrist strain, and initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and has been granted as service connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relation to his military service.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the cause of death (end stage renal disease) is not presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board denied entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 and denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left inner ear disorder, right inner ear disorder, tinea pedis with onychomycosis of the feet, and bilateral hearing loss.,There is no current evidence of any diagnosed conditions related to these issues.