Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus but the other conditions remain pending as they are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to new evidence and medical examinations. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of polycystic liver disease, determine if PTSD is related to service, and re-examine hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in a final December 2015 rating decision. The Board has now reopened the claim due to new and material evidence, but the issue of whether he is entitled to service connection remains pending as it will be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and chronic sinusitis. Service connection is denied for restless leg syndrome due to lack of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain his complete service treatment records and determine the appropriate rating for his hearing loss, as well as service connection for sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a mental health condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The claims for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left hearing loss disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, left tinnitus, and bilateral tinnitus have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is etiologically related to his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and significant evidence supports this reopening. The claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss disability due to lack of evidence showing aggravation during service and right ear hearing loss disability as the Veteran was presumed sound at entry into service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, and therefore he does not qualify for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hearing loss disorder and tinnitus due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered a chronic disease under VA regulations and presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cortex inflammation was dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues: joint pain, vision problem, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disorder (pleural effusion), eosinophilic granuloma of the lung, chronic gastritis, hepatocellular carcinoma, prostate cancer, and urinary incontinence.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 90 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from February 1, 2018 is denied. The appeal for entitlement to TDIU is remanded.