Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claims for a bilateral foot disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The decision also denied the Veteran's claims for these conditions based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus, as well as his claim for TDIU, were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for bilateral hearing loss or a schedular rating for bilateral recurrent tinnitus. For TDIU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment outside of a protected environment.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injury. The hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded due to inadequate VA examination.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its onset during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 80 percent for bilateral hearing loss from July 20, 2016 to December 14, 2016. The decision was based on the audiometric findings demonstrating Level XI in the left ear and Level IX in the right ear.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations. Issues include service connection for right ear hearing loss, increased rating for tinea versicolor with neurodermatitis, a higher rating for PTSD, and an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has reconsidered the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, PTSD, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, residuals of a recurrent anal fissure, sarcoidosis with sleep apnea, hypertension, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disorder, and cyst removal scar. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be provided by another audiologist.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, major depressive disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to September 18, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to accommodate the Veteran's phobia of having anything inserted into his ears.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and additional medical opinions regarding his right ear hearing loss and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, the lowest possible rating under VA criteria. The Board found that his hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating based on the provided evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during active service. The decision also grants a grant of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and denied DIC benefits under Section 1318. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran’s service-connected conditions caused or contributed to his cancer, which resulted in his death.

The rating for bilateral hearing loss was improperly reduced, and the original 50% rating is restored. The right hand/wrist disability claim has been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and basal cell carcinoma have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, with the Board finding that the Veteran's assertions regarding the onset of his tinnitus are credible.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The Board found that his current hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence to support a connection to service, including noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety) due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's testimony regarding the onset of her conditions in service is considered credible.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder NOS but denied service connection for a hearing loss disorder.