Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of a comprehensive VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially rated at 50% prior to August 21, 2019. Effective from August 21, 2019, the Veteran is granted a rating of 100% for his bilateral hearing loss.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, Gulf War Syndrome (to include psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and unexplained aches and pains), PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is denied.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The hearing loss and right elbow disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new comprehensive VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is directly related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because he failed to report for a necessary VA examination without showing good cause.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, while his sleep apnea claim is denied. The right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's cause of death, pneumonia, is not related to his military service or any service-connected disability. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran was not rated totally disabled for at least ten years prior to his death and did not meet other eligibility criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The appellant's left foot disability, acquired psychiatric condition (claimed as PTSD, anxiety), and bilateral hearing loss are all under review.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective April 29, 2010. The appeal for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression and PTSD, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The dermatitis, sinusitis, diabetes, and hypertension claims are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were previously denied, but reopened due to new evidence. The claim for OSA is remanded as the VA examiner's opinion did not address secondary service connection.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded because the VA examiner’s opinion does not adequately address whether it is related to PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent, but no higher, based on the results of audiometry tests conducted in October 2017 and January 2018. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s condition met criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between current disabilities and active duty service.

The Veteran's hypertension, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss have been granted service connection. The left knee disability appeal is dismissed due to lack of a timely notice of disagreement. Service connection for other conditions remains pending.