Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The claim for service connection has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and anxiety disorder are being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, as he has a history of working for over 30 years in various capacities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and sinus condition, to include allergic rhinitis and a deviated septum. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service injuries are to be considered by an examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was restored to a 20 percent disability rating from April 15, 2010 to November 4, 2014. For the period March 3, 2010 to November 4, 2014, an increased disability rating of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss was granted.

A rating of more than 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,An earlier effective date of January 4, 2017, for the increased rating to 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic PTSD with anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and for major depressive disorder is granted.,Service connection for recurrent major depressive disorder is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic headaches is granted.,Service connection for migraine headaches is granted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for a low back condition is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for sinusitis is denied.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for a chronic enlarged prostate is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic erectile dysfunction is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic kidney disease is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for verification of VA examination reports and a new audiological examination.

The claims for left ear SNHL, low back condition, and right knee condition have been reopened. The Veteran now has service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 100% rating as of December 18, 2017. Headaches are also granted and linked to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Parkinson's disease, hypertension, and a cardiac disability must be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to noise during service, but there are insufficient records of asbestos exposure in his military history. Further development is needed to verify these exposures.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected tension headaches (claimed as headaches) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks of migraine/non-migraine headache pain during the appeal period.,The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate audiological examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 30, 2019 is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and he does not have service-connected hearing loss in his right ear.,New evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the claims for varicose veins of the lower extremities and low back disability. However, these claims are denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to consider.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that any current hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown to be related to active duty.

Service connection for a right ankle disability is granted.,The issues of entitlement to service connection for headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or due to housebound status, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not result in such needs.