Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as an inadequate February 2017 private medical opinion. The Veteran's hearing loss is being reviewed again for a supplemental VA opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss.

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

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for urethral stricture is remanded. The claims for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and earlier effective date are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder) is remanded. His TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the remaining issues on appeal.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of headaches and bilateral hearing loss are remanded. The earlier effective date for urethral stricture remains pending.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is remanded. His TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the remaining issues on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of tinnitus is remanded. His TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the remaining issues on appeal.,The earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for urethral stricture remains pending. The Veteran's TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the remaining issues on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, previously diagnosed as chronic acquired psychiatric disorder with PTSD and depressive disorder, was granted a 70% rating effective March 31, 2015. He also received a TDIU.,He has other service-connected conditions including multisystem illness, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, tinnitus, and hearing loss of the left ear.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are rated at 60% combined, which is sufficient to warrant a TDIU. However, the claim should be referred for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU due to unemployability.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, both claimed as secondary to frostbite residuals of the ears. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted service connection as they are related to his military service. The left ankle and right ankle disabilities are denied as there is no current disability found.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and PTSD. The decision is based on the merits of each claim.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions of vasomotor rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted effective June 16, 2014. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and his military service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss requires further examination and review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a medical opinion regarding his CVA. The AOJ should also provide notice of the laws and regulations governing reopening claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since May 15, 2015. His other service-connected conditions (Hearing Loss and Tinnitus) are rated as 30% and 10%, respectively. The combined rating of his service-connected disabilities meets the schedular criteria for consideration of Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to new evidence, but the Board has decided that additional development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship between the conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the current audiologic examination is inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the period of August 11, 2014 to September 2, 2014. Therefore, entitlement to TDIU was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to outstanding service treatment records and a need for additional examinations. The AOJ must obtain these records and provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), on an extraschedular basis, prior to October 7, 2008, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment.