Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hiatal hernia is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), to include as secondary to hiatal hernia, is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for surgical scars secondary to hiatal hernia, based on the receipt of new and material evidence, is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, based on the receipt of new and material evidence, is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to service, including his in-service acoustic trauma. The other two issues (status-post right eye surgery and gastroenteritis) remain denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with a compensable rating denied.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD and hypertension has been granted. The Veteran will receive the appropriate compensation based on his service-connected conditions.,Service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD has not been established.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of an etiology opinion addressing the Veteran's assertions regarding noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 13, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria set forth in VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that caused the condition.,Service connection for major depressive disorder secondary to service-connected tinnitus, lumbar strain, and bilateral hearing loss is granted. The effective date for this decision remains October 11, 2011.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss. The claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I, which corresponds to a non-compensable rating. The Board denied the claim for a compensable initial disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 1, 2011. The Board has granted TDIU from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicides during his active service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability remains under appeal and a new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has credible reports of noise exposure during service and a current diagnosis of tinnitus, which resolves in favor of granting service connection. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board finds insufficient evidence to determine if it was incurred in service and remands the issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would qualify him.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence regarding his in-service noise exposure and its impact on his current conditions.

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