Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unemployable due to his inability to hear conversations, particularly on the telephone. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional audiological evaluations to determine his current symptoms, level of severity, and functional impairment associated with his hearing loss. The rating for tinnitus remains denied as it is currently at the highest compensable level.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions alone did not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to September 11, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of updated VA treatment records, particularly from December 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression). The appeal for tinnitus was granted, with a disability rating of 30 percent. Service connection for persistent insomnia is also granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted due to continuous symptoms since service and exposure to loud noise during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete information and records. The Veteran is required to provide copies of his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, remanded the claims for back disability and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of chronic conditions during or within a presumptive period after service, and the Veteran's reports about the onset dates were not credible. The medical evidence did not support a nexus between the current disabilities and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted, and his initial compensable rating for hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral cataracts, OSA, TBI with dementia, and peripheral neuropathy are all denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are causally related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's respiratory disability, presumed to be due to asbestos exposure in service, is denied.,The Veteran's headache disability is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as the evidence does not show that his hearing loss warrants a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,Service connection is not granted for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, right shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of hearing loss and low back disorder were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and prostate cancer, both presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in the Republic of Vietnam.