Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for hearing loss of the right ear. The Veteran's claims are related to noise exposure and a possible head injury during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease (previously denied as part of heart disease), bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed. The claim for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the current diagnosis. The claim for erectile dysfunction is also remanded as there is no clear opinion linking it to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and development, specifically regarding the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The cases of left ear hearing loss, skin cancer, toe fungus, and headache disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service noise exposure and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain substantially gainful employment during the periods of TDIU claims from July 29, 2013 to June 3, 2014, and from July 31, 2015 to October 18, 2016. From December 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017, the Veteran's combined disability rating was 90 percent, which rendered his TDIU claim moot due to the assignment of a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the origin of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's death was caused by Parkinson's disease, which the Board found not service-connected. The claim for service connection for cause of death is denied as there is no evidence that any service-connected disability contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, COPD, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential new information regarding herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's claims are not yet decided.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim and resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence of worsening symptoms and incomplete medical records. The Veteran is required to undergo additional examinations and a review of his exposure history.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The respiratory disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to service exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and carotid blockage status post endarterectomy are being remanded for further review. The increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the earlier effective date claim for coronary artery disease is also remanded.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of this condition were continuous since service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.