Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and remanded the issues of initial compensable rating for minimal scarring and small, superior retraction pocket, right tympanic membrane and service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional records and provide a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service. The Veteran's claim for service connection remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for tinnitus. Service connection was granted for a right ear hearing loss disability.

The Veteran’s claim for an increased rating for diabetes was denied as the evidence did not show that his diabetes required insulin or regulation of activities.,Service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were both denied as there is no indication they are related to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to service-connected diabetes was granted.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, increased ratings for hearing loss and depression, initial ratings for back disability and radiculopathy, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,VA examinations will be scheduled to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board has also remanded several issues, including an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae, effective date prior to September 18, 2007, for service-connected transverse myelitis of the left lower extremity and for service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and/or anxiety) and a sleep disorder (to include insomnia and/or sleep apnea).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues with the disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability due to further development being needed, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, hearing loss, rosacea, autoimmune hepatitis, hepatic steatosis, residuals of liver transplant, surgical scar, and hepatic encephalitis were all denied as they are not service-connected.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support a link between these conditions and his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to hazardous noise exposure during active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left inguinal hernia are granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted a 10% evaluation for his postoperative left inguinal hernia.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral bone spurs, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss due to inadequate examinations and lack of a complete record. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was insufficient evidence to show a relationship between his current hearing loss and service. The preponderance of the evidence did not support the claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,For his respiratory condition, service connection will be remanded to determine if exposure to fumes/solvents and/or herbicides caused or aggravated this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) of the bilateral lower extremities is granted, while his claims for a bilateral leg condition other than PAD, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory conditions are denied.