Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's testimony regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and review of records.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, prior to May 12, 2015 was denied. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to January 31, 2013 is currently remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, PTSD, erectile dysfunction, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU due to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but his right ear hearing loss is not.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to insufficient rationale in previous VA opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran had a continuity of symptoms since service, and his private psychologist confirmed the presence of PTSD related to combat stressors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung condition began during his active military service and is granted. The issues of service connection for a bilateral hand condition, neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric results did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and associated tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure in service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service, while his tinnitus is presumed to have started in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for hearing loss in the right ear. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service, including any in-service acoustic trauma.