Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The claims for back disability, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, nerve conditions of the upper and lower extremities, left knee disability, lung condition (COPD), and skin condition have not been reopened.,Service connection was denied for a back disability, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, nerve conditions of the upper and lower extremities, left knee disability, COPD, and skin condition. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him incapable of securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to October 27, 2015. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU prior to that date.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board denied an increased rating above 90 percent for bilateral hearing loss from October 25, 2013 to August 9, 2017 and a TDIU claim since the Veteran's hearing loss did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for TBI was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for TBI residuals including a cognitive disorder.,Service connection for PTSD was remanded as there were issues with the procedural history.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have begun during service and granted service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for a skin disability, bilateral hearing loss, and the reopening of a claim for anxiety. The claims are currently under review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to his military service. The claims will be further developed with additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an updated VA examination to assess his ability to engage in gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a lung disorder, and a dental disability due to lack of adequate medical examination in the June 2012 VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for stress fractures of the bilateral hips, left and right knees, back condition, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted an initial rating of 20 percent from May 30, 1974, to May 1, 1984, and a 40 percent rating from May 2, 1984, to July 12, 1990. The Veteran was granted a 60 percent rating from July 13, 1990, to October 17, 2002, and an 80 percent rating from October 18, 2002, to April 12, 2007.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability prior to September 13, 2011 was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Veteran was exposed to noise during his military service, but the VA examiner found no threshold shift in auditory thresholds at separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability prior to April 11, 2018 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 80 percent. For TDIU prior to April 11, 2018, the Veteran met the schedular criteria and the Board granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities significantly impacting his employability.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in May 2017 is inadequate and requires further development to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise that the tinnitus was incurred during service, but the hearing loss claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.