Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and anxiety), finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is remanded due to the lack of recent audiometric test results.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability, neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inextricably intertwined issues with TDIU. The Veteran's income was found not to exceed maximum annual pension rates, allowing him to receive NSC pension.

The Board denied service connection for a disability on the top of the right foot and left foot, as well as a right ear hearing loss disability. The rating in excess of 30 percent for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) prior to March 13, 2013 was also denied.,The Board found no evidence of current disabilities on the top of either foot or right ear hearing loss disability during the pendency of the claim. The appellant's service treatment records did not show any chronic conditions affecting these areas.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is being remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the condition and service. The claim for service connection for coronary artery disease due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded as there is insufficient information about the Veteran's service in Korea.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to bilateral hearing loss is granted. The VA has decided to remand the issue of increasing his rating for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as they are presumed to have been incurred in service due to acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion considering the change in measurements between December 1964 and September 1967.

The Board has granted the reopening of the previously denied claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as right ear hearing loss disability. The claim for left ear hearing loss disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied, but his claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's hearing acuity was found to be at Level I in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, resulting in a non-compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The right knee, left knee, thoracolumbar spine, and hip disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction. The effective date for the award of service connection for prostate cancer is set at July 2, 2013, which is the date of the Veteran's radical prostatectomy. The effective date for service connection for erectile dysfunction remains June 28, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, his right ankle disability was rated at its maximum of 20 percent under DC 5271, his hypertension met criteria for a 60 percent rating but no higher, and his lumbar spine disability warranted an initial 60 percent rating. The Veteran's claims were not remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, which is now dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service records and potential National Guard/Reserve service. Additional attempts are needed to obtain these records before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of current disability or in-service injury.,Service connection for depressive disorder, NOS was granted with an effective date of December 14, 2010. The Veteran did not file a claim prior to this date.