Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, specifically whether it is related to delayed onset due to his right-handed shooting.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service, while left ear hearing loss and PTSD are not. The Veteran was granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but denied for left ear hearing loss and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability preexisted service and was aggravated by active duty. Tinnitus is proximately caused by the Veteran’s service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The appeal for a TDIU is remanded due to the failure to ensure substantial compliance with previous remand directives and consideration of evidence favorable to the Veteran. The Board will need to obtain an updated opinion regarding the collective impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to function in an occupational environment.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore a 70 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support such a rating at the time of the September 2012 reduction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) status post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is granted, with a current evaluation of 60 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee, right hip, left hip, and thoracolumbar spine disorders due to their potential secondary relationship with service-connected bilateral foot disorders. Additional VA examinations are needed to determine if these additional conditions are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated at 60 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6100 for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that his current hearing impairment does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no effective dates were assigned.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.,The effective dates for service connection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are being remanded as the Veteran contends they should be earlier than May 14, 2015.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The VA examinations are deemed inadequate, and further medical examination and opinion are required.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded his claim for increased rating of major depression with anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, while his right ear hearing loss has been denied. The Veteran's left shoulder disability has also been granted a rating of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and a bilateral knee disability. The remaining issues are REMANDED for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for residuals of fractured right hand and wrist, to include osteoarthritis. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board's decision to remand several issues has been vacated due to the Veteran's participation in VA’s RAMP program, which removed jurisdiction from the Board.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for tinnitus is now considered substantiated, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.