Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension (secondary to diabetes mellitus), diabetes mellitus, a bilateral eye disorder, missing toes of the right foot, and a quarter of the left leg amputated. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records and any private treatment records from Oklahoma City. Additional development may be necessary.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss, which pre-existed service, is granted as secondary to service exposure. The skin condition, tinnitus, and gastrointestinal disorders are denied. Service connection for a sleep disorder was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened, but the issue remains denied. The effective dates for other claims have not been established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease (CAD), have rendered him unemployable for the period prior to November 16, 2018. The TDIU claim is granted for this period. For the periods from November 16, 2018 to February 3, 2019 and beginning on February 4, 2019, the Veteran has a combined 100 percent schedular rating due to CAD, which also qualifies him for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate. The TDIU claim is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to incomplete medical evidence. The Veteran is being asked to undergo a new VA examination to determine if he has had bilateral hearing loss during the appeal period, whether it is related to service, and if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since October 10, 2012. The Board found that the current level of disability does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no current disability found.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, and bilateral macular degeneration due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential herbicide exposure. Additional development is needed to corroborate the Veteran's assertions of exposure and determine the etiology of his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and gastrointestinal disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will be provided with another opportunity for VA examinations.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and TBI residuals was denied. The right ankle injury, right ear hearing loss, and right knee disorder were remanded due to insufficient examination findings.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss and a right knee disorder is also pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The case is remanded for a determination on the initial rating claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions began during service. The decision also notes that there are positive nexus opinions from private medical examiners linking the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to October 1, 2018, as his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's Graves' disease and thyroid disability are granted as secondary to his service-connected multiple myeloma. The other conditions have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae. Bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to military noise exposure, while the Veteran's PFB symptoms are considered mild with occasional shaving-related flare-ups.