Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records and outstanding VA/privately held medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service or his meningioma.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be related to noise trauma sustained during active service and granted as service connected.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, as his current condition is considered to have started during service and has continued since then.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to the lack of evidence showing a nexus between in-service noise exposure and the current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and skin disorder were reopened due to new and material evidence. The rating reductions for lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, ocular hypertension, and low back disorder were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are linked to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss. The case is remanded for a new VA examination regarding his left thigh strain.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating may be warranted. The VA examinations for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and hearing loss are needed to determine their current severity. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent effective August 13, 2012. The cause of death due to hypertension and congestive heart failure is remanded for a medical opinion on whether it was related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to conflicting audiometric test results and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's allergies are considered to be related to his service-connected alopecia areata.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in unemployability due to their combined rating of 60 percent, which does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The Board finds that the evidence does not show an inability to work due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss and IHD are granted service connection, while COPD and NHL are denied. The Board also found that the evidence is in equipoise for service connection of hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The issues of tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and asbestosis are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hearing loss and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit based on noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not require aid and attendance or render him housebound, so his claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his current combined evaluation of 100 percent and lack of qualifying conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened, and his VA needs to reassess the severity of his condition.