Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for skin disability has not been reopened.,Service connection is denied for left shoulder and right ankle disabilities due to the need for additional medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the VA examiners' opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and pes planus are inadequate, as they did not address potential service connection based on noise exposure or other in-service factors. The claims for these conditions are therefore remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues due to inadequate substantive appeals.

Compensation for bladder cancer is denied. Service connection for cervical spine, right wrist, and right ankle disorders is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner will need to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus began during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. Effective dates of July 28, 2005 have been granted for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities. The rating for diabetes mellitus remains unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period, and his TDIU claim is granted.

Service connection is granted for CAD, bilateral hearing loss, and left eye disorder. The Veteran's service-connected heart disability may be aggravated by his left eye disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss due to a lack of recent VA examination, and to determine whether his hearing loss is related to service or not.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as Level III in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board denied the claim for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the September 2013 rating decision. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed again as there is now evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied by the Board.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service connected. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and schizophrenia, is denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to be at worst level VIII, resulting in a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection based on the benefit of doubt.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted due to the evidence being at least in equipoise with regards to its onset during service.

The Veteran's death was caused by end stage renal disease, which may be related to his service-connected prostatitis. The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities and his cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, but denied an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it was incurred in active service due to noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C. The claim for a low back condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence.