Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not show the Veteran had these conditions during or after service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying his periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection and entitlement to TDIU as the Veteran passed away before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions were denied due to lack of current diagnoses or established links to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle condition and whether to reopen his claim of service connection for a lumbar spine condition is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition (plantar fasciitis) and cervical spine condition (claimed as C3 and C4 disc herniation with mild central stenosis) is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the failure to appear at previously scheduled VA examinations. The Board finds that good cause has been shown and the Veteran should be given another opportunity to present for examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, Parkinson's Disease, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that additional medical evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities. The right elbow tendonitis claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active military service.

The appeal seeking an initial rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed.,The appeals seeking increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss are dismissed.,New and material evidence having been received, the application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder is granted. The appeal seeking service connection for this condition is remanded.,New and material evidence has not been received, the application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a lower back disorder is denied. The appeal seeking service connection for this condition is remanded.,Service connection for a left ankle disorder is denied. The appeal seeking service connection for this condition is remanded.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, including hammer toes, hallux valgus, and degenerative arthritis, is denied. The appeal seeking service connection for this condition is remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as there are insufficient medical opinions in the record regarding this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Bell’s Palsy and an effective date prior to September 18, 2015 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and the effective date is set at March 11, 2015.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the Board finds that a remand is necessary due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension) do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further development as it may be related to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in May 2014. New and material evidence has been received, allowing the claim to be reopened. The case is remanded for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Service connection for cervical spine condition, lower back condition, pes planus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all denied due to lack of current diagnoses or causal relationship to service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorder) is remanded for further development.