Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence of current disability. The claims for loss of sense of smell, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis B are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete service personnel records.

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

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and hearing loss, but remanded the issue of service connection for hypothyroidism due to lack of relevant VA treatment records. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has decided some issues in favor of the Veteran, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, it denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The brain condition/surgery and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left foot injury as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the evidence supports a finding that his current hearing loss is due to acoustic injury during active duty service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the dorsal spine is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure to provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases for its decision and failed to ensure that VA fulfilled its duty to assist in obtaining potentially relevant evidence. The Veteran's claims are now pending again with the RO.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inaccurate factual basis in the April 2014 VA examination, and a new addendum opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantial and gainful employment prior to September 12, 2017.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable prior to May 22, 2019, and as 40 percent from that date. The Board found no evidence of a distinct period when the disability warranted higher evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a patent ductus arteriosus is reopened. A rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted, and an initial 10 percent rating for vasovagal syncope is granted. The Board has remanded the issues regarding brain injury and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma sustained during his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder disability due to insufficient evidence of a current disability, as well as an inadequate audiometric test. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations and provide additional records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, but more evidence is needed for the hearing loss case.