Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus), right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination, requiring a new opinion on whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his initial service enlistment from 1957 to 1959.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which is currently considered a direct service connection issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete information and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The claims are now pending before the RO.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and lower back disability. The claims are granted as entitlement to service connection is established for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II is also being remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as non-compensable prior to January 14, 2014 and remanded for further evaluation. The Veteran's linear scar associated with left inguinal hernia repair is also remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period of April 29, 2005 to February 3, 2006 due to lack of evidence showing he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to a need to ascertain the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was previously rated at 20 percent prior to January 28, 2016. The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of his claim after that date.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss as new and material evidence was not received, despite the Veteran's assertions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the issue of an increased rating for left ankle osteoarthritis (claimed as a left foot injury) is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is a result of noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, myalgias and arthralgias of the neck, shoulders, and arms, and a right knee disability have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Specifically, the issues of service connection for these conditions are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but dismissed the appeal regarding right ear hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the right ear evaluated at level IV and the left ear at level II.,For hypertension associated with residuals of renal cell carcinoma, a separate rating of 10 percent has been granted since October 18, 2012.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, so these issues are dismissed.